KU basketball players part of antitrust lawsuit against NCAA

WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) – Former Kansas basketball players Mario Chalmers and Sherron Collins are among 16 former men’s college basketball players suing the NCAA for unauthorized use of their names, images and likenesses during NCAA Tournament highlights.

The class-action lawsuit was filed Monday in U.S. District Court in New York. Several other entities, including the ACC, Big East, Big Ten, Big Twelve, Pac-12 and SEC were named in the lawsuit, along with Turner Sports Interactive. The players believe they should be paid for the use of their names, images and likes in “promoting and monetizing March Madness,” according to the lawsuit. The lawsuit alleges the NCAA and other defendants violated the federal Sherman Antitrust Act.

Chalmers was the hero of the 2008 NCAA Tournament; his three-pointer in the final seconds of regulation sent the championship game with Memphis into overtime, where KU prevailed for its first National Championship in 20 years. Collins also starred for that team.

Other plaintiffs include longtime NBA player Jason Terry, who played collegiately at Arizona, and several other players from Power 5 conferences. The lawsuit claims the NCAA has conspired with conferences, colleges, licensing companies and apparel companies to “fix the price of student-athlete labor near zero and make student-athletes unwitting and uncompensated lifetime pitchmen for the NCAA.”