Auburn University guard Allen Flanigan has taken advantage of NCAA’s new name-image-licensing era rules and recently announced his new partnership with the Gulf Coast rising sports beverage brand, Hydra-Guard Sports Drink, making him the first collegiate athlete to partner with the brand.
The Louisiana based company that counts stars such as Denver Nuggets’ Paul Millsap, Minnesota Vikings’ Alexander Mattison and New Orleans Saints’ Terron Armstead, and Ryan Ramczyk among its top professional athletes, now welcomes the Auburn Tiger Collegiate Star to its powerful roster of premium hydration.
After a stunning sophomore season, averaging 14.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game, Flanigan contemplated declaring for the NBA Draft, but decided instead to continue his ongoing commitment to Auburn University and follow in his father’s footsteps with the Tigers (Wes Flanigan was a stellar player and a four-year starter for Auburn from 1993-97, before becoming an accomplished coach.)
According to ESPN’s Jonathan Givony, Allen was predicted to be a second-round pick in the 2021 NBA draft, as he was ranked No. 54 in the ESPN 100 and was projected as the 17th pick in ESPN’s 2022 Mock Draft. “As many of you know, playing in the NBA has always been my lifelong dream, but I also have other goals and dreams, like becoming an All-SEC player or award finalist and leading this team to something special like an SEC championship or NCAA Tournament,” Flanigan wrote on Instagram. “With that being said, I will no longer be focusing on the 2021 NBA Draft. I’m coming back! The journey continues... let’s be great!”
Flanigan, who started all 27 games for Auburn as a sophomore, is now excited to become the first Hydra-Guard Sports Drink Collegiate Ambassador, paving the way for the company’s new program which will focus on providing the best hydration products with natural ingredients for its athletes. Name, Image and Likeness legislation has rapidly reshaped college athletics in recent months as players use their brands to receive endorsement deals across the country.
The quickly rising natural sports drink originally launched in 2017 and expanded its footprint in recent years. CEO Joseph Tucker is very excited about the partnership with the rising Basketball star and says “Allen is an exceptional athlete both on and off the court. We are honored to be a part of this process and his chosen beverage for hydration as he enters into another year with the Auburn Tigers and prepares for the NBA draft.”
As he looks forward to his third season with the Tigers, he also pays close attention to his nutrition and recovery on and off the court. “I believe relationships and partnerships will go a long way towards me sustaining a long career as a professional athlete. I’d like to thank Hydraguard for believing in me and my ability on the court and my commitment to a healthy lifestyle off the court. There is no way I could compete against the best basketball players in the world without taking care of my body."
Flanigan is now looking forward to the upcoming season with the Auburn Tigers with his eyes set on a NCAA championship. "I look forward to Hydra-Guard being a big part of the development and sustainability of my body and career for years to come” says Allen.