The North Carolina Board of Education recently approved high school athletes to collect compensation for their name, image, and likeness (NIL), joining 40 other states in this decision.
The decision was initially instigated by a lawsuit filed by Grimsley High School quarterback Faizon Branden. Branden’s family filed the lawsuit after the North Carolina Board of Education initially rejected Branden’s $1.2 million NIL agreement with a prominent national trading card company. A Wake County judge ruled in Branden’s favor, prompting the board to adopt NIL rules for the 2023-2024 school year.
This ruling applies to Spartan students or anyone who plans to be recruited for college athletics in North Carolina.
This decision, however, has caused debate among many in the North Carolina sports community. For athletes receiving this compensation, they not only get money, but also have their appearance more widely recognized, especially by professional sports leagues.
However, some athletes and high schools believe it will be challenging to balance the fame of being a college athlete with being a high school athlete.
“I think it [NIL] has affected us in a negative way. There is a player on our team that got a NIL deal, and I feel like he thinks he is bigger than the team,” sophomore football player Kingston Brown stated.
Along with the division supposedly created by NIL in high school sports, there are also concerns of pay-for-play between athletes and third-party entities such as marketing firms and apparel brands. While NIL rulings allow high school athletes to receive payment through endorsements, promotions, or other activities, they are not allowed to receive compensation directly for their athletic performance, also known as pay-for-play.
“I feel like there should be a cap on it, I feel like no athlete should be making more than coaches,” said Brown.
The involvement of third-party entities in NIL deals raises questions about how the $20.5 million cap on direct payments from schools to athletes will be enforced. It also complicates the requirement for schools and athletes to report compensation.
“I think they should be paid to play, it takes a lot of time and energy to be good at a sport. It costs a lot for uniforms, lessons, and equipment,” said junior Caitlin Callicot, a member of the Spartan girls’ tennis team.
One of the biggest questions right now for North Carolina high schools is whether this decision will carry over into the 2026-27 school year, since the North Carolina Board of Education originally intended to prohibit NIL for the 2025-26 school year. Still, the Brandon ruling forced a change of course, and temporary rules were enacted instead for this current school year.
“It’s a wait and see,” said Spartan football coach Mr. Rich Brendle when asked about what he thinks will happen in future school years with NIL.