NIL in high school? Arizona’s next-gen athletes balance books, brands

NIL in high school? Arizona’s next-gen athletes balance books, brands

A financial revolution once seemingly only available for college athletes, NIL is making its way into high schools with U.S. athletes growing their brand before stepping foot on college campuses.

The Collapse of Amateurism in the NIL Era

The NCAA’s transfer portal was created to give student-athletes greater autonomy, the freedom to explore new opportunities and make decisions that align with their academic and athletic goals. For high school prospects, the recruiting process similarly aimed to empower athletes to choose the best path for their future. Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) reforms were intended to complement this freedom, finally allowing athletes to be compensated fo…