Nico Iamaleava Attends Playoff Game In Los Angeles While SEC Team Demands $200K From His Family

Nico Iamaleava is making himself at home in Los Angeles after transferring from Tennessee to UCLA in the offseason. The new Bruins passer took in an NBA Playoff game this week between the Lakers and Timberwolves.

Iamaleava did so while his family continues to clean up the transfer mess left behind at an SEC school. Arkansas is reportedly seeking a six-figure payout from Nico’s brother, Madden.

Both quarterbacks are now on the UCLA roster after having started the spring in the Southeastern Conference. Nico Iamaleava was entering Year 3 as the starting signal caller at Tennessee while Madden Iamaleava was gearing up for his debut with the Razorbacks.

The oldest Iamaleava bailed on the Vols after failed NIL negotiations. He was reportedly seeking a $2 million raise to stick around in Knoxville. Tennessee refused, so he hit the transfer portal. After landing with the Bruins, his younger brother followed suit.

The Iamaleavas, who originally hail from California, are now enjoying the perks of life on the West Coast. On Tuesday, Nico was spotted at Crypto.com Arena to watch the Lakers take down Minnesota.

Hours after that photo was taken, his family received a demand letter from a former school.

Arkansas is asking for $200K back from Madden Iamaleava.

The first-year passer initially committed to UCLA as a high schooler before a late flip to Arkansas. He signed with the Razorbacks in December, which led to a new NIL deal.

Iamaleava then broke contract with his decision to enter the transfer portal four months later. The Hogs are now seeking a six-figure payment.

Arkansas’s athletic director posted a threatening message on social media this week voicing his support of the NIL collective’s ability to “enforce their rights under any agreement violated by our student-athletes.” Most viewed it as a direct reference to Iamaleava. A day later, demand letters were sent.

Should the money not be repaid, Arkansas could look into taking some sort of legal action. The football program is clearly unhappy with being burned on the NIL deal.

Buyout clauses are becoming a more important piece to these contracts. We’ve seen it in both football and basketball. Arkansas’s SEC rival, Auburn, finds itself in a similar situation with transfer Chad Baker-Mazara.

Baker-Mazara reportedly signed a $1 million agreement with the Tigers, got upset with a teammate’s higher salary, asked for a raise, then bailed when it was not given. He could owe the school $600,000 for breaking contract.

This is becoming the norm in college athletics. With limited transfer portal restrictions and massive payouts being given to student-athletes, schools are doing what they can to protect themselves and their donors. We’ll soon see how it works out for Arkansas and Madden Iamaleava.