Jason Gardner Jr. signs Personal Branding deal with Fishers health food restaurant
· Yahoo Sports
Jason Gardner Jr. was 8 or 9 years old when James Cunningham first got to know him as his track coach. When Cunningham and his wife Marissa became owners of Rush Bowls in Fishers in 2023, Gardner Jr. quickly became one of their most loyal customers.
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So, when the opportunity arose to sign Gardner Jr., a Fishers’ senior basketball standout, to a Personal Branding Activity deal, it seemed like a natural fit for both Gardner and Rush Bowls, a health-focused all-natural smoothie store with acai bowls.
“With the new NIL landscape for these kids, we thought it would be a good opportunity for him,” Cunningham said. “He’s someone who comes in regularly, so we could get him set up to where he can start to build his brand. We thought Jason would be the perfect person, especially with him being an athlete focused on nutrition. He really was the perfect person for us to do this for the first time.”
The Indiana High School Athletic Association approved Personal Branding Activity in May, allowing high school athletes to monetize their name, image and likeness. Athletes are allowed to utilize their NIL as long as they are not depicting any affiliation with a member school in association with receiving PBA compensation.
Gardner posted his affiliation with Rush Bowls on his Instagram account on Thursday, along with a discount code for 20$ off. Cunningham
“I’m proud to announce that I am partnering with Rush Bowls Fishers as the first Indiana high school male Brand Ambassador,” Gardner wrote. I love Rush Bowls because they offer healthy, delicious alternatives to typical fast casual food. Their bowls and smoothies have all the nutrition I need to perform at my highest level. … I’m excited to partner with a local company that believes in investing in the next generation of athletes.”
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Gardner is one of the top players in the state and will be one of the frontrunners for IndyStar Mr. Basketball for the upcoming season. He recently cut his list to Indiana, Auburn, Creighton, DePaul, Florida, Mississippi State, Ohio State and Stanford.
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Cunningham and his wife Marissa opened the store in Fishers three years ago. Rush Bowls is a national franchise that originally started in Colorado in 2004. There are only two Indiana locations with the other in Bloomington.
“I think all parties can have a mutual benefit,” Cunningham said of the PBA for high school athletes. “Fishers has really grown and people have their places they typically go. I think it could help us because Jason has kids following him and they find out there are alternative healthy options out there. Jason will come in after school or before practice. And for him, he can take advantage of being able to grow his brand.”
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This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Jason Gardner Jr. signs Personal Branding deal with Fishers health food restaurant