University of Richmond Athletics
New Funds to Allow Spider Basketball to Recruit, Retain Elite Student-Athletes
11/07/2025 | General, Women's Basketball, Men's Basketball, Spider Athletic Fund
RICHMOND, Va. — A pair of new development funds will give Spider fans the chance to invest in the university's efforts to enhance roster-building, recruitment, and retention by providing direct payments to basketball student-athletes for the use of their Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL), Richmond Athletics announced Friday.
The Men's Basketball Student-Athlete Development Fund and Women's Basketball Student-Athlete Development Fund will support direct NIL payments to Spider basketball student-athletes and are integral parts of Richmond's response to the House v. NCAA settlement.
"Building a championship-caliber basketball program in the current intercollegiate athletics environment requires new approaches, new solutions, and new levels of engagement and investment from fans," said Athletics Director John Hardt. "These funds are critical to our efforts to recruit athletically and academically accomplished student-athletes to Richmond and keep them in red and blue until they've earned their degree."
The fundraising efforts for Basketball Student-Athlete Development Funds will be led by the Spider Athletic Fund and Associate Athletics Director for Basketball Development Jim Merritt.
"For the first time, Spider basketball supporters can personally contribute to helping the university build a championship-level roster," said Merritt. "By supporting these funds, fans can help ensure that Spider basketball — which has always been a point of pride for UR — remains synonymous with athletic and academic excellence for generations to come."
Merritt, a former University of Richmond student-athlete with more than 30 years of experience in higher education advancement, rejoined Richmond in August to fill the newly created Associate AD for Basketball Development position.
The Men's and Women's Basketball Student-Athlete Development Funds are solely for the purpose of recruiting and retaining Spider basketball players, and are distinct from existing funds for each Spider sports program — including basketball — that provide teams with advanced equipment, facility enhancements, travel opportunities, and more.
Contributions to the basketball student-athlete development funds can be made at give.richmond.edu. For more information about the funds and other ways to support competitive excellence at Richmond, individuals should contact spiderathleticfund@richmond.edu.
The Men's Basketball Student-Athlete Development Fund and Women's Basketball Student-Athlete Development Fund will support direct NIL payments to Spider basketball student-athletes and are integral parts of Richmond's response to the House v. NCAA settlement.
"Building a championship-caliber basketball program in the current intercollegiate athletics environment requires new approaches, new solutions, and new levels of engagement and investment from fans," said Athletics Director John Hardt. "These funds are critical to our efforts to recruit athletically and academically accomplished student-athletes to Richmond and keep them in red and blue until they've earned their degree."
The fundraising efforts for Basketball Student-Athlete Development Funds will be led by the Spider Athletic Fund and Associate Athletics Director for Basketball Development Jim Merritt.
"For the first time, Spider basketball supporters can personally contribute to helping the university build a championship-level roster," said Merritt. "By supporting these funds, fans can help ensure that Spider basketball — which has always been a point of pride for UR — remains synonymous with athletic and academic excellence for generations to come."
Merritt, a former University of Richmond student-athlete with more than 30 years of experience in higher education advancement, rejoined Richmond in August to fill the newly created Associate AD for Basketball Development position.
The Men's and Women's Basketball Student-Athlete Development Funds are solely for the purpose of recruiting and retaining Spider basketball players, and are distinct from existing funds for each Spider sports program — including basketball — that provide teams with advanced equipment, facility enhancements, travel opportunities, and more.
Contributions to the basketball student-athlete development funds can be made at give.richmond.edu. For more information about the funds and other ways to support competitive excellence at Richmond, individuals should contact spiderathleticfund@richmond.edu.
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