Jordan Banegas: NIL Brings Opportunities for NMSU Basketball and Fans

Jordan Banegas, a lifelong New Mexico State University basketball supporter, sums up the Name, Image, and Likeness era of college athletics in one word: Opportunity.

The opportunity to help NMSU compete at a higher level, the opportunity to connect with the team and players on a more intimate basis, and the opportunity to promote your brand, company, or product, are the things NIL is providing not just to players, but fans.

“People see NIL as bad news for G5 schools like New Mexico State and UTEP,” Banegas said. “We see it differently. Before there was only one path to building a program and you were behind all the big guys and all the G5s in front of you. Now there are lots of paths. You’re not just relying on tradition and deep pockets. You have other avenues.”

Banegas made his comments during the latest edition of the Old Scribes Podcast. Banegas, and his partners Luke and Paul Smith, have assumed control of A-Mountain Sports NIL Collective, NMSU’s NIL program. A native of Las Cruces, N.M., and a 2015 NMSU graduate, Banegas and his partners volunteered to direct the collective after Paul Grindstaff, who founded A-Mountain Sports, went to Vanderbilt.

“I intend on working hand in hand with the leadership of New Mexico State University to help find a successor who will continue the success that A-Mountain has had since its inception,” Mr. Grindstaff said upon his departure to Vanderbilt. “My hope of hope is that all Aggies – individuals and businesses alike – will continue to grow the base of #AggieNIL supporters.”

Banegas and the Smith brothers, who had been in contact with Grindstaff since the start of the Collective, have taken on that responsibility.

“We have a lot of passion to help and New Mexico State has a need,” Banegas said on Old Scribes. “It’s been a lot of work. I’m not going to lie. It’s a little more than I expected. But we want to see the Aggies win and see this as the best way for us to have an impact in helping the Aggies win.”

Banegas explained the Collective pools funds and resources for student-athletes to take advantage of name, image, and likeness opportunities so they don’t have to handle individual negotiations and contracts themselves.

“They sign with A-Mountain, who has the relationship with New Mexico State and we do the groundwork for the athletes, collecting funds, advertising opportunities and other ways to leverage an athlete’s name image and likeness,” Banegas said. “We do that under one house.”

There are many misconceptions about NIL. The players at NMSU aren’t getting rich. Most use their money for transportation like traveling home for the holidays and special events, as well as covering their cost of living expenses while attending the university. “A lot of this is about making it comfortable for the student-athlete to compete,” Banegas said.

Supporters shouldn’t be disappointed when someone like former NMSU quarterback Diego Pavia goes to Vanderbilt along with other former starters. New Mexico State was mentioned in every nationally televised game Vanderbilt played this year and the nation learned players can come to NMSU and prove they belong in the SEC.

“I’m excited players are getting their share,” Banegas said. “It’s about time people who are putting their own blood and tears into this are getting a share.”

A-Mountain Collective is actively promoting its 575 Campaign aimed at getting 575 donors to commit to paying $5.75 a month toward the Collective. It’s essentially the amount of one beer a month. In return, donors receive a monthly newsletter and invitations to special receptions and events. “We want to hear what the fans want for their contributions,” Banegas said. “The more you give the more exclusive the Intel will be and the more exclusive the events they’ll be invited to.”

Banegas said the Collective and his partners are not financially supported by NMSU. “We’re on our own island,” he said. “We have a relationship. But we exist to support the student-athletes and make them successful.”

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