Headlined by projected #1 overall pick Chet Holmgren, upcoming NFT collection features a superstar group of NCAA phenoms including Jalen Duren

Candy Digital, the next generation digital collectible company, announced today the lineup of star athletes headlining its inaugural “Candy Sweet Futures” college basketball collection: Gonzaga University’s Chet Holmgren, University of Memphis’s Jalen Duren, University of Notre Dame’s Blake Wesley, University of Alabama’s JD Davison and University of Nebraska’s Bryce McGowens.

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Credit: Candy Digital

Each player will have four different rarities including a 1-of-1 auction, Epic, Rare and a four-day open Core edition. The collectibles will be made available for purchase over several weeks beginning in late February, with additional details and athletes to be announced soon. Any holder of a “Candy Sweet Futures” college football NFT of any rarity will be given early access to the upcoming basketball drop. Available products can be found at https://www.bitski.com/candy/sweetfutures/.

“Our newest series of “Candy Sweet Futures” stars marks our first product release in basketball, and we’re excited to connect with fans of the sport who are some of the most passionate digital collectors,” said Scott Lawin, CEO of Candy Digital. “Chet, Jalen, Blake, JD and Bryce are each extraordinary athletes with the potential to evolve into superstars at the next level.”

Holmgren arrived at Gonzaga as the consensus No.1 recruit in the nation and has since earned honors as the West Coast Conference Freshman of the Week six times, while averaging close to a double-double for the country's No. 2-ranked team. A premier player, and a transcendent talent with a rare combination of size and skill, the center is projected to be one of the top picks in the upcoming 2022 NBA Draft.

“I’m thrilled to be part of the inaugural Candy Sweet Futures hoops lineup alongside some of the top players in the country,” Holmgren said. “Candy is reimagining the way fans can celebrate the sport and players they love, and I look forward to sharing the new NFTs soon.”

At nearly seven-feet tall, Duren is an imposing post player who uses his size, strength and athleticism to create matchup nightmares for opponents on both ends of the court. He entered the season as one of the most highly regarded freshmen in the country and has been a leading contributor for coach Penny Hardaway’s Memphis Tigers, averaging more than 10 points and seven rebounds per game.

“I’ve been very selective about the brands I partner with, including in the new and exciting world of NFTs,” Duren said. “Candy Digital has quickly become a leader in the NFT marketplace and is the perfect fit for me to join their Sweet Futures program.”

Wesley hit the ground running since his arrival in South Bend, becoming one of the team’s go-to scorers in his freshman campaign and putting up nearly 15 points per game for the Fighting Irish. Featuring strong physical tools and good size for a guard, he’ll play a critical role should Notre Dame make a deep run in the conference and NCAA tournaments.

A consensus five-star recruit coming into college, Davison has done it all this year with a combination of lightning quickness and elite passing ability. The point guard is one of the team leaders in assists and coach Nate Oats will look to maximize his playmaking ability should the Crimson Tide make some noise at the end of the season.

McGowens came to Nebraska as the highest-ranked recruit in program history and his pedigree has quickly turned into star power, leading the Cornhuskers in scoring with nearly 16 points per game. A 6’7 guard with great range, McGowens has scored in double-figures in 14 of the team’s 19 games this season.

“Candy Sweet Futures” launched in July 2021 as an initiative focused on bringing the NIL rights of student-athletes to the market with one-of-a-kind digital offerings, beginning with elite college football players. All 22 athletes sold out of their Rare edition NFTs at $250 each within minutes of dropping, and Clemson starting quarterback DJ Uiagalelei’s 1-of-1 auction sold for $19,500.

About Candy Digital

Candy Digital is a next generation digital collectible company formed by three executive partners: Michael Rubin, CEO, Fanatics; Mike Novogratz, founder and CEO, Galaxy Digital; and Gary Vaynerchuk, Serial Entrepreneur and Investor.

Candy Digital is Major League Baseball and the Race Team Alliance’s Official Partner for NFT’s and Collectibles. Candy operates Major League Baseball’s official NFT ecosystem where fans and collectors are able to purchase, trade, and share officially licensed NFTs to deepen their love of the sport.

Candy’s team of world-class digital artists, designers, and technologists are developing a broad range of digital collectibles, beginning with sports content and expanding into art, entertainment, music, and more.

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