Maccabi Tel Aviv Center Armando Bacot Reveals College Earnings That Changed His Life

Maccabi Tel Aviv recently finalized its roster for the 2026/27 season, including the addition of center Armando Bacot. Bacot, who played five seasons at the University of North Carolina, shared in a recent U.S. interview how his college years profoundly impacted his life beyond basketball.

During his time at North Carolina, Bacot benefited from new NCAA rules allowing college athletes to earn money through endorsements and sponsorships. He revealed that he earned over $2 million during his college career, a sum that initially overwhelmed him. "I had no idea what I was doing. Suddenly, you become a millionaire so fast. It was crazy," Bacot told former UNC player Theo Pinson. He credited the strong brand of North Carolina and his on-court performance combined with self-marketing for attracting lucrative deals from companies like TurboTax.

Bacot noted that since his departure, endorsement earnings for college players have only increased, citing former teammate Seth Trimble’s recent $3 million deal with Louisville as an example. Despite this, Bacot emphasized how transformative his college experience was, saying, "I’m from Richmond. I got life-changing money just by playing basketball in college. I will always be grateful to North Carolina and its brand. Earning over $2 million in college is crazy and life-changing."