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How To Hypothetically Represent Julius Randle

Kentucky Wildcats forward Julius Randle (30) dribbles the ball against the Boise State Broncos in the second half at Rupp Arena. Kentucky defeated Boise State 70-55. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports
Kentucky Wildcats forward Julius Randle (30) dribbles the ball against the Boise State Broncos in the second half at Rupp Arena. Kentucky defeated Boise State 70-55. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports
Kentucky Wildcats forward Julius Randle is the subject of a hypothetical marketing brochure created by IU Bloomington students. Photo Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports

Last night I gave my Sport Agency Management class their Final Exam for the Fall Semester.  The session marked the end of three straight years teaching the class that was developed from scratch by the excellent Sports Management department at Indiana University Bloomington and me after I served as a guest speaker at the university many years ago.  It has been a pleasure to be a part of IU Bloomington and hopefully provide some insight into the world of sports agency to students genuinely interested in acquiring knowledge about an industry oftentimes misrepresented and misunderstood by the general media.

Every year I require students to submit final projects.  Last year, I had my students interview sports agents who had not formerly been interviewed for an article on Sports Agent Blog and with their permission I published those interviews on this site.  For example, former student Matthew Popper profiled agent Steve Rosner of 16W Marketing.

This year, I decided to have my students pretend they were the representatives of players who may be draft-bound in the near future in their respective sports.  The final projects are beginning to roll in.  With their permission, I am embedding an NBA Draft and Marketing Strategy booklet created by a group of students on behalf of University of Kentucky forward Julius Randle.  Obviously, Julian had nothing to do with the creation of this brochure nor has any knowledge of the individuals who crafted it.  The entire project is based on a hypothetical situation, which involved Randle leaving school early and being a 2014 NBA Draft selection.

Anyhow, I simply love displaying my students’ work and enjoy it when they make me proud.

Julius Randle 2014 NBA Draft and Marketing Strategy

By Darren Heitner

Darren Adam Heitner, Esq., is a preeminent sports attorney and the founder of Heitner Legal, P.L.L.C., a Fort Lauderdale-based law firm specializing in sports law, contract negotiations, intellectual property, and arbitration. He earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Florida Levin College of Law in 2010 and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, magna cum laude, from the University of Florida in 2007, where he was named Valedictorian of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Admitted to practice in the state bars of Florida, New York, and the District of Columbia, as well as multiple federal courts, Darren also serves as a certified arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association.

As an adjunct professor, Darren imparts his expertise through teaching Sports Law at the University of Florida Levin College of Law and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) at the University of Miami School of Law in the Entertainment, Arts, and Sports Law LL.M. program. His scholarly contributions include authoring several books published by the American Bar Association, such as How to Play the Game: What Every Sports Attorney Needs to Know, and numerous articles in prominent publications like Forbes, Inc. Magazine, and Above the Law. His thought leadership in NIL has earned him recognition as one of the foremost experts by The Wall Street Journal, USA TODAY, and On3, and he has been lauded as a “power player in NIL deals” by Action Network and a “top sports trademark attorney” by Sportico.

Darren’s passion for sports law led him to establish Sports Agent Blog on December 31, 2005, initially titled “I Want To Be A Sports Agent.” The platform, created as a New Year’s resolution, has grown into a cornerstone of the sports agency community, offering in-depth analysis of industry trends, legal disputes, and agent-player dynamics. His commitment to the field is further evidenced by his representation of numerous athletes and sports agents, as well as his prior role as an Adjunct Professor at Indiana University Bloomington, where he developed and taught a course on Sport Agency Management from 2011 to 2014.

Darren’s contributions have been recognized with prestigious honors, including the University of Florida’s 40 Under 40 Award, the University of Florida Levin College of Law’s Outstanding Young Alumnus Award, and designation as the best lawyer in Fort Lauderdale by Fort Lauderdale Magazine. He remains an active voice in the sports law community, sharing insights through his weekly NIL newsletter and his X posts, engaging a broad audience on legal developments in sports.