Candy Digital Unveils Expansive “Candy Sweet Futures” Lineup of Top College Basketball Stars

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

NEW YORK, January 27, 2022–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Candy Digital, the next-generation digital collectibles company, today announced the lineup of star athletes to shine their inaugural “Candy Sweet Futures” college basketball collection: Gonzaga University’s Chet Holmgren, University of Memphis’s Jalen Duren, University of Blake Wesley of Notre Dame, JD Davison of the University of Alabama, and Bryce McGowens of the University of Nebraska.

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Credit: Candy Digital

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

“Our latest batch 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 all extraordinary athletes with the potential to evolve into next-level superstars.”

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

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“I’m excited to be part of the Candy Sweet Futures inaugural lineup, along with some of the best players in the country,” said Holmgren. “Candy is a new take on how 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 sides of the field. He went into the season as one of the most highly regarded freshmen in the country and was a major contributor to 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 work with, including in the new and exciting world of NFTs,” said Duren. “Candy Digital has quickly become a leader in the NFT market and is a perfect fit for me to join their Sweet Futures program.”

Wesley got off to a flying start since his arrival in South Bend, becoming one of the team’s top scorers in his freshman campaign, racking up nearly 15 points per game for the Fighting Irish. With strong physical tools and a good size for a guard, he will play a vital role as Notre Dame takes off in conference and NCAA tournaments.

Davison, a consensus five-star recruit coming to college, has done it all year round with a combination of lightning speed and elite passing skills. The point guard is one of the team leaders in assists and coach Nate Oats will try to maximize his playing ability if the Crimson Tide makes some noise at the end of the season.

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

“Candy Sweet Futures” was launched in July 2021 as an initiative aimed at marketing student athlete NIL rights with a unique digital offering, starting with elite college football players. All 22 athletes sold out of their Rare edition NFTs for $250 each within minutes of the drop, and Clemson’s 1-on-1 auction of quarterback DJ Uiagalelei sold for $19,500.

About Candy Digital

Candy Digital is a next-generation digital collecting 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 NFTs and Collectibles. Candy operates Major League Baseball’s official NFT ecosystem where fans and collectors can buy, trade, and share officially licensed NFTs to deepen their love of the sport.

Candy’s team of world-class digital artists, designers and technologists develop a wide variety of digital collectibles, starting with sports content and expanding to art, entertainment, music and more.

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Contacts

Matt Pignella
candy@dkcnews.com