Former Villanova basketball star Kris Jenkins forever etched into NCAA Tournament history for his buzzer-beating three-pointer that won the 2016 national championship. Now he want to be compensated for his moment. 

According to The Athletic's Ralph Russo, Jenkins has filed a lawsuit against the NCAA and six major athletic conferences, for what he claims are damages resulting from the restrictions on athlete compensation and the inability to profit from his name, image, and likeness (NIL) during his collegiate career.

The antitrust complaint was filed in the Southern District of New York and targets the NCAA, along with the Big East, ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12, and SEC. The same conferences who were part of the House v. NCAA case, a high-profile lawsuit that led to a proposed $2.8 billion settlement for current and former college athletes.

However, Jenkins has opted out of the House suit and is seeking his own compensation. He argues that he has significant lost earnings tied to his role in one of college basketball’s most iconic moments, which gets played over-and-over in many highlight reels for March Madness. 

Jenkins, who played at Villanova from 2013 to 2017, is best known for his game-winning shot against North Carolina in the 2016 national championship game. The shot not only delivered a title to Villanova but also became a defining highlight in March Madness history. 

The lawsuit claims that the NCAA and its member conferences have continued to benefit financially from that moment through media, merchandising, and promotional uses. All while Jenkins was prohibited under then-existing NCAA rules from receiving any financial benefit himself.

According to the complaint, Jenkins believes he missed out on between $400,000 to $500,000 in potential earnings due to the restrictions placed on him as a college athlete. These lost opportunities include everything from revenue-sharing with schools and conferences to earnings from third-party endorsements, video game appearances, and social media branding. The lawsuit also points out that Jenkins and his teammates participated in numerous autograph sessions for fans and donors, yet were not allowed to accept compensation under the NCAA’s rules at the time.

Jenkins suit is similar to the one filed in 2023 by former Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson and other ex-Wolverines, who are seeking over $50 million in damages from the Big Ten and NCAA. Both lawsuits aim to challenge the structure of amateurism that defined college sports for decades. 

What makes Jenkins’ case stand out is the broadcast rights NIL tied to profits. “The Shot" buzzer-beater is still one of the top-viewed videos on the NCAA March Madness YouTube channel, which continues to bring in ad revenue. His legal team argues that the NCAA and Big East have effectively monetized his moment for years while denying him a piece of that success.

Jenkins’ brief professional career never took off with a stint in NBA’s G League. But through this lawsuit, he’s attempting to retroactively reclaim his NIL from the NCAA.