Hoosier State of Mind
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Indiana Basketball: Five former players who could have benefited from profiting from their likeness

By Adam Childs

DAYTON, OH - MARCH 24: Victor Oladipo #4 of the Indiana Hoosiers celebrates after a play late in the game against the Temple Owls during the third round of the 2013 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at UD Arena on March 24, 2013 in Dayton, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
DAYTON, OH - MARCH 24: Victor Oladipo #4 of the Indiana Hoosiers celebrates after a play late in the game against the Temple Owls during the third round of the 2013 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at UD Arena on March 24, 2013 in Dayton, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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Damon Bailey, Indiana Basketball
4 Apr 1992: Damon Bailey of the Indiana Hoosiers dribbles the ball down the court during a playoff game against the Duke Blue Devils at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Duke won the game 81-78. /

1. Damon Bailey

Bailey might not have been the national name you would think of, but he was immensely popular in the state of Indiana. He was one of the best high school basketball players ever in the state and was a hero in his hometown of Bedford, IN.

Bailey was a star before he even got to high school as then-coach Bobby Knight was already recruiting him to go IU. He didn’t disappoint in high school as he would score a state record 3,134 points, including double figures in every game he played in high school.

Bailey would become more of a role player at Indiana, largely due to who his teammates were. He played alongside Pat Graham, Greg Graham, All-American Allen Henderson, and 1993 National POY Calbert Chaney. But even with his role on the Indiana team, he was still the most popular.

His legend had grown so much when he was in high school that everybody wanted an autograph of a picture. Bailey could have made more on his likeness and appearances than maybe any other player in the history of Indiana basketball.

Bailey was the type of player that would have benefited a lot from this ruling. The thing that is a little different about him though is he would probably not have benefited as much if he went to a school outside of Indiana. He was os beloved in the state, that going to Indiana would have been his best financial option.

Next. "What if" Bird went to IU?. dark

He never made it as a pro player, but he was a cult hero in the state and playing for IU. He is definitely a player that could have made his money in college and because of the NBA not working out still would have been in pretty good shape.

Bailey might not be the name you were thinking of when you think of IU basketball but he was the one that might have been able to make the most.

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