Oakland's Jack Gohlke and Trey Townsend, March Madness darlings, cash in with NIL

Pittsburgh — The Oakland men's basketball team is making a whole lot of memories.

And a few of the Golden Grizzlies also are making bank.

Seniors Jack Gohlke, who became an overnight sensation with his 3-point barrage in the NCAA Tournament win over Kentucky, and Trey Townsend, the Horizon League player of the year and league tournament MVP, both cashed in with NIL deals on the off-day between games in Pittsburgh.

Gohlke, with the internet taking to likening his look to an accountant, signed a deal with TurboTax, with tax day looming. Gohlke even shot a makeshift commercial in the team hotel.

"Me and my teams got to the next round by making all our moves count, just like TurboTax, who makes all your off-court moves count this tax season," Gohlke said in the video, seemingly taken in the team hotel ballroom, and posted on his social media accounts Friday.

Gohlke then puts up a shot, and gives the shrug he had on display after making some of his 10 3-pointers in the 80-76 win over Kentucky in the opening-round game Thursday.

Oakland (24-11) plays N.C. State (23-14) in the second round at 7:10 p.m. Saturday at PPG Paints Arena.

Gohlke and Townsend then shot a commercial for Oofos, which makes support slippers.

"We ain't no Cinderella baby," Gohlke said in the video, again seemingly shot by a cellphone camera, posted on Townsend's social media platforms, "but I've got my magic slippers."

Added Townsend: "We recover with our magic slippers."

Gohlke, the transfer from Division II Hillsdale, has been the story of this NCAA Tournament so far, becoming the fifth player to make 10 3s in an NCAA Tournament game. He was 10-for-20 shooting against Kentucky, and he's fulfilled dozens of media requests, and the national folks are eager to learn his story.

His Instagram following has grown by more than 10 times since the Kentucky game, and his cellphone has been flooded with messages, which he said he'll get around to returning after Saturday's game.

He also was asked earlier Friday about NIL opportunities in the wake of his Kentucky outing.

"Yeah, I want to make money," Gohlke said. "But I care more about winning the next game."

The NIL coffers aren't exactly super-deep at Oakland, which is why Townsend, who had 17 points and 12 rebounds against Kentucky, seems poised to explore the transfer portal and NIL scene after this season. The Oxford native is playing his fourth season at Oakland, the team he grew up rooting for, with his parents, Skip and Nicole, both Golden Grizzlies basketball alums.

But head coach Greg Kampe has no qualms about Townsend exploring a significant opportunity to play elsewhere on a bigger stage, noting consistently that Townsend has done everything that's been asked of him at Oakland. Townsend is set to graduate from Oakland this semester.

tpaul@detroitnews.com

@tonypaul1984