OSU, Bucknell star & social influencer is entrepreneurial force of personality

By Terry Poulos, editor of Greeks In Sports

Chicago area product Jimmy Sotos is 22 years old and has already amassed 1.3 million Tik-Tok followers and another 800,000 on Instagram. Having recently concluded an outstanding college basketball career, he’s been astute enough to leverage his public image and score tens of millions of viral internet impressions, once reaching nearly 17 million views with one post!

Sotos is now poised to soon launch his own active fashion brand (official name kept close to the vest for the time being). Getting a head start while still in college thanks to the newly-enacted NIL program (Name, Image, Likeness), Sotos availed himself of the new law allowing amateur athletes to strike paid deals with companies and others. He has a slew of business equity and paid influencer deals with a number of ventures.

NIL came at a “perfect time as my social media following kind of blew up,” said Jimmy in an exclusive interview with Greeks In Sports. “I was able to monetize it real quick. I have been working with a protein powder company called Liina, We recently did a video and they want to do a partnership. I’m part of the company, helping them grow and expand their reach.”

He also has an equity stake in Liina. “Some of the other deals are one-offs where they pay a flat rate. With Liina I believe in the product and the people. I’m in it for the long run,” said Sotos.

He’s also worked with Adidas, Kroger, Antie Anne’s, Finish Line, Victoria’s Secret Pink, Celsius energy drink, and Atlantic Records, to name a few.

As a member of three NCAA tournament teams – first with Bucknell University and then another two with The Ohio State University (OSU) – this force of personality has positioned himself for a myriad of future opportunities. He’s also looking to continue his basketball career playing overseas. He professes a love and preference for Greece, but may also have options in the NBA G-League or with other European teams.

But this is not someone who’s merely content with present success. An economics major who graduated in the Spring, Sotos is taking summer classes to obtain a masters degree in sports management from OSU. Indicative of the Greek ideal of mind-body, Sotos isn’t just another brainy entrepreneur. He has Adonis-like looks and recently signed with a modeling agency. Combining that with an extrovert personality, Sotos found a recipe to inspire engagement and drive digital traffic.

The Sotos family, who hail from Kalamata, boasts three generations of great basketball tradition. Grandfather Sam is in the Hall of Fame of the National Hellenic Invitational Basketball Tournament. Jimmy’s father, prominent attorney James Sotos, played college ball and also played professionally with Panellinios BC in Greece before returning to earn his JD.

Furthermore, Jimmy’s oldest brother, Tom, starred at the University of Chicago before earning a JD at UCLA. He’s now an aspiring author as well. Another brother, Danny, played at Lake Forest University and is pursuing an MBA at Washington University, St. Louis. A fourth brother, Christian, was a top high school player, played at Harper Jr. College, and has found a niche training young players. Tommy helped negotiate Jimmy’s NIL deals.

All the boys prepped at Conant High School in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. Jimmy, the youngest, excelled most at the sport. He was named All-Area his senior season. The 6’3 guard is an excellent long-range shooter, is fundamentally sound with great court vision, and has outstanding athleticism, including a 35″ vertical leap.

As for that clothing label, “It’s one of the things I’m most passionate about,” admits Sotos. “I’ve always been into fashion. Stay on top of trends, I’m a confirmed sneakerhead. I used to play NBA2K (videogame) just to design jerseys. I decided I wanted to test the market and created a fan merchandise line. It had a limited run but sold out. I sold it and it did super well. I’m going to focus on sustainability. We’re working with a team now. Hopefully I can get the first launch this summer. I don’t want to rush anything.

“I’m funding the entire project and going for it,” he continued. “I believe in my designs. I’m going to create a competitive streetwear culture. A lot of streetwear today is spawned from skater culture. Mine is rooted in basketball culture. They call it League Fits. That walk from the bus to the lockeroom becomes the runway. But I’m making it more luxury and affordable and versatile so people can wear it in many different arenas.”

To Sotos, sustainability and eco-friendly aren’t just buzz words. “We’re trying to use materials that aren’t bad for the environment,” he insists. “That when you wear it multiple times, it won’t be something that falls apart and goes into the trash. It’s going to cost a little bit extra but I’m willing to do that to make my brand come to life.”

Albeit he’s an extrovert and social media phenom, his brand won’t be his name. “I want my brand to stand on its own,” he related. “The label has a Greek component too. It will have some ties to my Greek culture.”

Sotos is very proud of his Hellenic heritage. Numerous times he incorporates Greek themes into his posts and work. One of his posts that garnered millions of views was `The Red Egg hit game’ about Greek Orthodox Easter. Called Tsougrisma, it’s the famous cracking of the eggs. “My family plays the game every Easter,” he said. “We’re competitive just like we are in any game.”

Many of Jimmy’s social media posts are about food and nutrition advice. “My favorite cuisine is Greek food,” he said. “I’m a junkie for Greek Mediteranean.” To further illustrate his love of all-things-Greek, Jimmy has a leg-length tattoo written entirely in the Greek language!

Growing up watching his father, and then his older brothers play in the Greek tournaments had a profound influence on young Jimmy.

“I grew up idolizing Greg Ktistou,” he said of the former All-State Illinois player who starred in college and was a major force for Jimmy’s Ypsilanti team in the Greek tournaments. “Now I hope the younger kids look up to me. Keeping the (Greek) tradition alive means a lot to me and my family. (Greek ball) is a big deal to me and my family. People still care, play hard, show love. Everybody is familiar. I grew up watching Billy Jacklin play on the Ypsi teams. He’s known me since I was a baby. Now we’re teammates.

“My goal is to play pro ball, ideally in Greece,” said Jimmy, who boned up on the language by taking courses in Greek at Bucknell. “I’m talking with agents and seeing what we can do. My dad played in Greece. It would mean the world to me to follow in his footsteps in our ancestral homeland.”