FreeGame October 2026
October 31, 2026
FreeGame Mgmt -- Looking Back at October
Believe it or not, I spent the majority of October in and around Charlotte. which is a pretty rare occurrence. In fact, I think this might be the first time since moving here that I've spent this much time at home. For the most part, I tried to use October as a preparation month. A chance to get organized, catch up on things behind the scenes, and prepare for what's shaping up to be a season of nonstop movement on the road.
Just because I was physically in Charlotte doesn't mean there wasn't anything going on! From preseason college exhibition games to the NBA G League Draft, October had its fair share of activity as we prepared for the start of the college basketball season.
Here's a look back at what we were up to!
Basketball is Back!
I kicked off October with a trip to Wake Forest to catch their exhibition game against Georgetown. After a long offseason of recruiting, roster building and preparation, being in the arena watching a real game live was refreshing.
I checked out Charlotte Hornets preseason game then drove out to Spartanburg watch our guy Chace Watley and Wofford take on Virginia Tech in a cool preseason matchup hosted on Wofford's campus.
Industry Updates & Education
While teams have been preparing for the season, the business side of college athletics certainly hasn't slowed down. Eligibility remains one of the biggest issues we're following, as ongoing litigation across multiple states continues to challenge the NCAA's eligibility framework, with court decisions impacting athletes' opportunities to compete.
As we head into the season, I also put together a revenue sharing refresher covering how the system works, where things currently stand, and what athletes and families should know..
Revenue Sharing 101: Blog Post | Podcast Episode
As always, our responsibility is to understand these developments, evaluate how they affect our athletes and help families make informed decisions. And if you're not surrounded by people who are keeping you educated on all of this, might be time to give us a call!
FreeGame Client Corner
In a major milestone for FreeGame, two of our clients got selected in the 2026 NBA G League Draft!
Trey Dinkins was selected in the 1st round w/ the 28th pick by the Westchester Knicks
Matthew Lane (a new addition to our roster) was selected in the 1st round w/ the 17th pick by the Texas Legends
Two athletes, two first-round selections, two very different paths, but most importantly two more opportunities to pursue their professional basketball dreams. They are currently in training camp as we speak and are fighting for a spot on the opening day roster.
The G League is an important, but also a unique part of the professional basketball pathway, so it's exciting to help our guys navigate the opportunities that come with it. From open tryouts and training camp invitations to final roster decisions, there's a lot more to the process than simply hearing your name called on draft day.
Meanwhile, Donovan Smith has just landed halfway across the world to begin his 9th season of professional basketball. His new team hasn't officially announced his signing as of this moment, so I'll have to save the details for next month. So for now keep an eye on our social media to see where he's landed.
Some Additional Client Highlights:
Isaac Asuma (Minnesota): Dropped 32 points against Creighton in a double-overtime exhibition thriller!
Jada Eads (Tennessee): Returned to the court after nine months recovering from a torn ACL, scoring 13 points against Florida A&M.
JaKahla Craft (Seton Hall) : Showed off her personality at Big East Media Day!
Philipe Ndong (Marquette Commit): Featured in a few different interviews, sharing more about his journey & commitment to the Golden Eagles. Check out his 247Sports interview & Milwaukee Journal Sentinel feature.
Johnny Kinziger (Illinois State): Got the chance to play right in his hometown backyard in an exhibition matchup against Green Bay, finishing with 14 points and 5 assists.
Boden Kapke (Nebraska): Took part in some football tailgate festivities with Hy-Vee, showing off a little personality away from the basketball court!
On to November!
And just like that, we're only a few days away from the start of another college basketball season!
November means getting back on the road for clients' games and recruiting. I'll be on planes, buses, trams and just about any other form of transportation you can think of from now through the end of the season, starting with the Field of 68 Tip-Off Monday at 12am in Rock Hill! From there, the tentative schedule includes my first trips to Duke and UNC, followed by Minneapolis, Boston, Ohio, Iowa City, Milwaukee, Chicago, Nebraska and Los Angeles, just to name a few.
Looking forward to seeing everyone compete and spending some time with clients in person.
On to November!
Kevin Tarca
VP of Basketball Operations
If you're new here, I am the VP of Basketball Operations at FreeGame Management. We sit at the intersection of sports, culture, and commerce, creating opportunities for athletes at every stage.
Our mission is simple: help you win before, during, and after your playing career.
Follow along as we continue to grow an athlete-first organization, by players, for players.
FreeGame Merch Storefront
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