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Willie Cauley-Stein signs with Roc Nation

By Josh Criswell

Feb 17, 2015; Knoxville, TN, USA; Kentucky Wildcats forward Willie Cauley-Stein (15) dunks the ball against the Tennessee Volunteers during the second half at Thompson-Boling Arena. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 17, 2015; Knoxville, TN, USA; Kentucky Wildcats forward Willie Cauley-Stein (15) dunks the ball against the Tennessee Volunteers during the second half at Thompson-Boling Arena. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports /
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Former Kentucky Wildcats star and top draft prospect Willie Cauley-Stein is the newest member of Jay-Z’s sports agency, Roc Nation Sports.

Some critics were unsure if rap mogul and former New Jersey Nets owner Jay-Z had what it took to make the jump to becoming a sports agent when he launched his own sports management group Roc Nation Sports in 2013. In just two short years, however, the cultural icon has silenced his doubters with an array of high-profile additions to his client list, including 2014 NBA MVP Kevin Durant and elite NFL talents Dez Bryant and Ndamukong Suh.

Former Kentucky Wildcats standout Willie Cauley-Stein has become the latest member of the Roc Nation Sports team, who announced his decision to sign with the agency earlier today.

Both parties are clearly pleased with the decision, as they should be. Roc Nation Sports benefits from locking up a potential NBA superstar from Day 1 of his NBA career. Cauley-Stein, meanwhile, will be guided by a management group that is emerging as a leader in the industry. With Jay-Z at the helm of the agency, the promising big man will have plenty of guidance available as he attempts to make the transformation from dominant collegiate player to NBA star.

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Cayley-Stein will also join a former Wildcat teammate in Boston Celtics rookie James Young, who also made the decision to sign with Jay-Z’s new management group shortly after announcing his intentions to enter last year’s NBA Draft.

On the surface, Roc Nation Sports appeared to be a misguided attempt from a successful businessman and transcendent figure to venture out into an area that is not his expertise. If the past two years are any indicator, those critics, myself included, were flat out wrong.

The reason why I was wrong and why Cauley-Stein has made a great decision to join Roc Nation is simple; there are few people in the sports or entertainment industry that know more about what it takes to be successful Jay-Z. You do not have to be a fan of rap music or to understand that is where his greatness truly lies.

His transformation from rapper to savvy businessman is by far one of the most incredible success stories of the sports and entertainment industry in recent years, and I would be completely shocked if Jay-Z is unable to help guide his newest signee to a career filled with success on the hardwood.

If Willie Cauley-Stein wants to become the next big star in the NBA, there is no better man to show him the way.

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