Arizona Tribune - Syracuse Basketball Stars Sadiq White Jr. & Olivia Schmitt Join Apex Entertainment's NIL Family

SYRACUSE, NY / ACCESS Newswire / September 23, 2026 / Apex Entertainment^®, the region's largest family entertainment center, announces today new NIL partnerships with Syracuse University basketball players Sadiq White Jr. and Olivia Schmitt. Created in conjunction with Mike Bristol's - 7 Enterprises Marketing Firm, LLC, these collaborations spotlight local engagement and a shared spirit between the community and Syracuse campus for men's and women's Orange basketball.

The announcement comes as Apex prepares to welcome new Syracuse men's basketball head coach Gerry McNamara to its Destiny USA location for a free public meet & greet event on October 15 from 7-8 pm.

Since the introduction of NIL in the Fall of 2021, Apex has committed itself to the Syracuse community by creating opportunities to empower student-athletes across basketball, football, lacrosse and, recently, soccer. With White and Schmitt joining this roster, Apex continues its ongoing commitment to supporting excellence and school spirit for the Orange community's best men's and women's sports teams.

"It looks to be an exciting season for men's and women's basketball at Syracuse, and we wanted our NIL family to reflect that," said Rob Luzzi, Senior Director of Marketing at RAVentures. "Adding two exemplary, returning players like Sadiq and Olivia to the Apex Entertainment team reflects our commitment to Syracuse athletics. And, after working closely with Coach McNamara for two years while he was at Siena University, we're thrilled to welcome him back home to Syracuse."

White, a 6'8" sophomore forward from Charlotte, N.C., made an immediate impact during his freshman season at Syracuse, highlighted by a career-best 14 points against Iowa State and a nine-rebound, 10-point performance against Tennessee. He was also invited to the USA Basketball U19 camp and played in both the Allen Iverson Roundball Classic and the Jordan Brand Classic as one of the top-ranked players in his class.

"Charlotte's a long way from Syracuse, so finding places that feel like home matters," said White Jr. "Apex is somewhere I can actually hang out with teammates for a night and getting to do that as a partner instead of a customer is pretty cool."

Schmitt, a 5'5" junior guard from Staten Island, N.Y., has been a steady presence in Syracuse's backcourt. In 2025-26, she appeared in 28 games and delivered a season-high 31 minutes against Iowa State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, shooting 56% from three while tallying 15 points, five assists, and three rebounds. She was also named to the All-ACC Women's Basketball Academic Team.

"I'm an advertising major, so I actually geek out a little on the marketing side of sports," said Schmitt. "Getting to see how a local brand like Apex builds a campaign, and being part of it myself, is exactly the kind of hands-on experience I came to Syracuse for."

Apex Entertainment has more than 55,000 square feet at its location in Destiny USA in Syracuse and offers bowling, bumper cars, arcade & VR games, laser tag, axe throwing, and other attractions. As with its previous Orange NIL partners, Apex will feature both White Jr. and Schmitt in various marketing efforts in the region, giving fans another connection to the Syracuse basketball programs.

Meet & Greet with Coach Gerry McNamara

Apex Entertainment's Destiny USA location will host a homecoming meet & greet with new Syracuse's men's basketball head coach Gerry McNamara on Wednesday, October 15, from 7-8 p.m. The Q&A event is open to the public with free admission.

McNamara, a former standout Syracuse guard from 2002-2006, was a key member of the Orange's 2003 national championship team and had his No. 3 jersey retired by the program in 2023. He spent 15 years on the Syracuse coaching staff before serving as head coach at Siena from 2024-2026 and returned to the Orange this spring as the program's new coach.

"Coming back to lead this program means returning to a very special community," said McNamara. "I'm excited to reconnect with our passionate fans, spend time with them, and talk about our team and the upcoming season."

About Apex Entertainment

Apex Entertainment^® is a family entertainment destination for people of all ages. With four locations in Massachusetts, New York and Virginia, Apex Entertainment is the largest local space for indoor family fun with world class attractions all under one roof. Headquartered in Westford, Mass. and established in 2017, Apex Entertainment is part of RAVentures, which owns and operates hospitality brands and real estate and development companies. https://www.apexentertainment.com/.

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Media Contact:

Eric Montague
Sleek Machine for RAVentures^® Hospitality Group
[email protected]
508-527-3312

SOURCE: Apex Entertainment

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire

W.Stewart--AT