In a stunning development that has rocked the UTSA basketball program, players Raekwon Horton and Damari Monsanto have publicly called out their coaching staff over unfulfilled NIL payments. The controversy erupted on March 28, 2025, when Monsanto shared a damning screenshot of text exchanges with his coach, who allegedly promised $125,000 in “straight NIL” money.
The situation escalated when Monsanto tweeted, “Why my head coach just blocked my number? ” suggesting a communication breakdown after payment discussions. Teammate Horton quickly added fuel to the fire, tweeting, “Never got my pape either, ” confirming the issue extends beyond a single player and pointing to potentially systemic problems within UTSA’s NIL management.
The Incriminating Evidence
The text conversation shared by Monsanto reveals a troubling exchange. When offered “$125 right now,” Monsanto asked for clarification, “Is that just straight nil?” The coach confirmed “$125k straight nil” and mentioned “got 25k this morning” with additional funds “coming during the year.” The exchange ended with the coach asking, “So you committing?” followed by “👀👀” emojis, a response that has drawn significant criticism online.
We got some NIL-related drama brewing at UTSA, it appears.
Raekwon Horton (12.2 points per game) and Damari Monsanto (11.1 points) were two of the Roadrunners’ top-4 scorers this year.
👀👀👀 pic.twitter.com/Irg8SqmbKn
— Roman Cleary (@RoAClear) March 29, 2025
This exchange paints a picture of substantial promises made to secure player commitments. For a mid-major program like UTSA competing in the American Athletic Conference, a $125,000 NIL package represents an extraordinary sum that some online commentators have questioned the program’s ability to fulfill.
Players’ On-Court Contributions vs. Off-Court Compensation
Both Monsanto and Horton have been key contributors to the Roadrunners’ 2024-25 season. Monsanto, a transfer from Wake Forest known for his sharpshooting, averaged 11.1 points per game while hitting 42.2% from beyond the arc. His performance in crucial games, including a 19-point outing against Charlotte, demonstrated his value to the struggling 12-19 Roadrunners.
Horton, who transferred from James Madison University, averaged 12.2 points per game, making him one of UTSA’s top four scorers.
Their on-court production starkly contrasts the off-court compensation issues they’re now publicly highlighting, raising questions about UTSA’s ability to honor commitments in the competitive NIL landscape.
The controversy highlights broader challenges in college basketball’s NIL era. Social media reactions suggest this may explain UTSA’s transfer portal activity, with one commenter estimating the program’s total NIL collective raised only $75,000 for all sports last year.
KEEP READING: Tom Izzo Shuts Down NIL and Transfer Portal Talk, Focuses on Next Game With Potential Final Four Implications
If accurate, this makes the $125,000 promise to a single player particularly troubling. It could potentially expose a significant gap between promises and financial reality in UTSA’s approach to player retention.
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