Virginia men’s basketball star Reece Beekman agreed to a name, image and likeness partnership with McDonald’s, giving the junior guard a signature combo meal at participating locations in Charlottesville and Shenandoah Valley.
Through Cav Futures, a Virginia-focused NIL collective, Beekman and other UV athletes have made deals with McDonald’s. Virginia quarterback Brennan Armstrong and women’s soccer captain Rebecca Jarrett announced sponsorships this summer. This deal is not Beekman’s first NIL sponsorship, but it is his first since signing on with the collective.
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In 2020, Beekman was a nominee to play in the McDonald’s All-American game but he was eventually left off the final roster. Just a few years later, the former four-time state champion in Wisconsin has a NIL deal with the golden arches.
In return for an undisclosed compensation, Beekman will promote the restaurant chain and the Charlottesville Ronald McDonald House, a charity that Beekman and other Virginia student-athletes have worked with, on his social media pages. A handful of locations will feature cardboard cutouts of the athlete throughout the store.
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“I am really looking forward to continuing to grow my relationship with the Ronald McDonald House. I have had a great time volunteering there with my teammates this year, and being able to give back to the Charlottesville community is very important to me,” said Beekman in the Cav Futures press release.
Through 61 career games with Virginia (one in 2022), Beekman has averaged 7.6 points per game in around 30 minutes per contest. Last year, Beekman led the Cavaliers in steals with 30. In the 2022-23 season opener against North Carolina Central University, the junior put up 10 points, 3 rebounds, and 5 assists.
