Connect with us

NIL

High school football will never be the same in era of transfers, NIL money

When Charles Dickens began his 1859 novel “A Tale of Two Cities” with the legendary line, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times,” who knew that it would aptly describe the state of amateur football in 2025? From college athletics to high school athletics, if you’re a parent, coach, athlete […]

Published

on


When Charles Dickens began his 1859 novel “A Tale of Two Cities” with the legendary line, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times,” who knew that it would aptly describe the state of amateur football in 2025?

From college athletics to high school athletics, if you’re a parent, coach, athlete or fan, you have plenty of stories to tell. Take notes, because there’s so much material you’ll be able to write a book, launch a podcast or participate in court cases still to be decided.

Advertisement

“It’s all crazy,” said future Hall of Fame football coach Matt Logan of Corona Centennial.

Football isn’t in a crisis but it is in a black hole with stakeholders seeking an escape path.

With final rules still not adopted in how name, image and likeness is supposed to work and college programs not only paying their own athletes but high school recruits, too, everyone is adjusting on the fly. Parents trying to navigate the changes are hiring agents, who are showing up to high school camps trying to find clients. There’s the college transfer portal and something similar in high school that saw more than 17,000 students switch schools in California last year.

Until NIL rules are figured out, it’s roll your eyes and don’t be surprised at anything.

Advertisement

Read more: High school football transfers tracker: Which top players are switching schools?

Some elite high school players have been reclassifying their graduation years to take advantage of money opportunities. And that’s after parents held them back entering high school to be bigger, stronger and faster as a 16-year-old freshman.

It’s all legal and even logical but the changing landscape is riddled with pros and cons and bad actors.

One big concern in high school sports is that parents might be too focused on scholarships for their kids and earning NIL money while forgetting the real reason people play sports — for the love of the game.

Advertisement

“For me, the whole value in sports has been degenerated,” Logan said. “You don’t play sports to get a scholarship. You play to learn how to lead, how to take orders, how to be a good teammate, how to work together. This could be the only chance to have fun, play with their friends, have a great experience.”

There have been football scandals in recent years — twice at Narbonne High, which had City Section championships taken away in 2019 and 2024 for using ineligible players. Now the football community is focused on what the Southern Section intends to do this fall about Bishop Montgomery, which supposedly has numerous transfer students (some from Narbonne) and is so confident the players will be declared eligible that a trip to Hawaii and a nonleague game against powerful Mater Dei have been scheduled.

Every week, coaches have to decide how to deal with players and parents who have little patience and many options. It’s a balancing act, and for the elite of the elite, coaches can’t even count on juniors returning as seniors because of opportunities to skip ahead to college.

“I understand why they are doing it. They have my full support,” said Sierra Canyon coach Jon Ellinghouse, who’s losing star defensive lineman Richard Wesley to Oregon a year early after he reclassified to the class of 2026.

Advertisement

Ellinghouse is embracing the idea his job is to “put them into positions to have life-changing opportunities.”

There are many different paths to success and failure. Remember how LaVar Ball didn’t care that his youngest son, LaMelo, was 13 years old playing summer basketball as a freshman for Chino Hills. He threw him in against older players and the rest is history. He averaged 25.2 points this season for the Charlotte Hornets as a 23-year-old in his fifth NBA season.

There are others who were 19-year-old seniors in high school, stopped developing, kept switching schools and will probably blame their coaches for not making the pros when the truth is it’s difficult to become a professional athlete.

It is the best of times with all kinds of money to be given out for being a good athlete. It is the worst of times because many of the treasured lessons from playing amateur sports no longer receive priority treatment. What happened to the importance of getting a college degree?

Advertisement

It will take someone with magical ideas to return a balance to the amateur sports world.

Sign up for the L.A. Times SoCal high school sports newsletter to get scores, stories and a behind-the-scenes look at what makes prep sports so popular.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.



Link

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

NIL

Report: College basketball regular season expanding to 32-game limit

According to CBS Sports’ Matt Norlander, the number of college basketball games played in a season is set to increase. Norlander reports beginning with the 2026-2027 season, teams can play on 32 occasions. They will not be required to but the move allows programs to schedule more nonconference matchups any given year. “College basketball’s regular […]

Published

on


According to CBS Sports’ Matt Norlander, the number of college basketball games played in a season is set to increase. Norlander reports beginning with the 2026-2027 season, teams can play on 32 occasions. They will not be required to but the move allows programs to schedule more nonconference matchups any given year.

“College basketball’s regular season is set to expand,” Norlander said. “Barring an unexpected and extremely unlikely motion to vote against, the NCAA Division I Council will approve on Wednesday an increase from 31 to 32 games, beginning with the 2026-27 season, sources told CBS Sports.”

***UPDATE*** – Later Wednesday evening, Norlander confirmed the deal was done. The change will apply to both men’s and women’s college basketball.

Norlander added that multiple team events (MTEs) are in the middle of the decision to expand. Events such as the Player’s Festival in Las Vegas can produce as many as four games in the later portion of November. Adding a game to the overall total gives schools more flexibility.

Finding some better high-profile nonconference matchups appears to be another goal, especially in the later portion of the regular season. Norlander said, “The additional game should also enable more teams to bring back nonconference opportunities in January or February.” Duke facing Illinois last year is an example, as is the Blue Devils recently agreeing to a matchup against Michigan in 2026.

As of now, no mention of expanding the calendar as to when the season begins. Early November appears to still be the target date. For example, this season’s opening night will take place on Nov. 4, spanning all the way to the first Monday in April for the national championship game.

Decision on NCAA Tournament expansion expected soon

Will the NCAA Tournament expand beyond the current format to include more teams? We should know soon enough.

According to a report from ESPN’s Pete Thamel, the decision or whether to expand the NCAA men’s and women’s basketball tournaments for 2026 “is expected to come in the next few weeks.” Thamel notes that the expansion would be to no more than 76 schools, which would be a maximum increase of eight new teams from the current format.

Thamel also notes that the NCAA remains engaged in talks with its media partners over any potential changes. That’s no surprise, as the primary driver in any decision is likely to be maximizing viewership and revenue.

The last major expansion to the NCAA Tournament field came in 2011. At that point, the field expanded from 64 teams to 68 teams. That brought about the advent of the play-in game.

On3’s Thomas Goldkamp contributed to this report



Link

Continue Reading

NIL

How NIL money is reshaping the NBA draft | Sports

Will Wade’s work building N.C. State into an immediate winner included the pursuit of an entrant in the NBA draft, just in case he returned to college. It wasn’t a huge risk: With all the cash flowing in college, the number of early entrants to the NBA draft has continued to shrink. This year’s draft […]

Published

on


Will Wade’s work building N.C. State into an immediate winner included the pursuit of an entrant in the NBA draft, just in case he returned to college.

It wasn’t a huge risk: With all the cash flowing in college, the number of early entrants to the NBA draft has continued to shrink. This year’s draft starts Wednesday night with its lowest total of those prospects in at least 10 years.


This page requires Javascript.

Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.

kAm“}@H J@F 42? A=2J E96 =@?8 82>6 2 =:EE=6 3:E >@C6[” (256 E@=5 %96 pDD@4:2E65 !C6DD[ C676CC:?8 E@ 9@H 4@==686 A=2J6CD 42? =@@< 2E E96:C 7FEFC6D] “{@@<[ x 42? 86E A2:5 E96 D2>6 x H@F=5 86E A2:5 😕 E96 v {628F6[ E96 D2>6 x H@F=5 86E A2:5 @? 2 EH@\H2J W4@?EC24EX[ D@>6 8FJD 2C6 86EE:?8 7:CDE\C@F?5 >@?6J]”k^Am

kAmp?5 >@C6 >@?6J 😀 @? E96 H2J]k^Am

kAmxE’D 366? 7@FC J62CD D:?46 4@==686 2E9=6E6D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^=2HD\DA@CED\e73`_362c`fe24e2h`a`bg46f7_2fec6QmH6C6 A6C>:EE65 E@ AC@7:E @77 E96 FD6 @7 E96:C ?2>6[ :>286 2?5 =:<6?6DD W}x{Xk^2m[ @A6?:?8 E96 5@@C 7@C 2E9=6E6 4@>A6?D2E:@? E92E H2D @?46 7@C3:556? 3J }rpp CF=6D] }6IE H66<[ @? yF=J `[ >2C^2CE:4=6^?422\D6EE=6>6?E\cbdd4_53g33a622cacged_dhc7`df_dbQm@77:4:2= DE2CE @7 C6G6?F6 D92C:?8k^2m H96C6 D49@@=D 42? 368:? 5:C64E=J A2J:?8 2E9=6E6D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^?422\9@FD6\D6EE=6>6?E\22b`eh_de6g`hc26637bcchdec`346_3Qm7@==@H:?8 E96 Sa]g 3:==:@? w@FD6 2?E:ECFDE D6EE=6>6?Ek^2m]k^Am

kAmu@C (256[ E92E =65 E@ D:8?:?8 %6I2D %649’D s2CC:@? (:==:2>D 27E6C acfDA@CED’ 7:7E9\C2?<65 EC2?D76C H:E95C6H 7C@> E96 5C27E]k^Am

kAm“q2D:42==J ?@H :7 J@F’C6 2? 62C=J 6?ECJ 2?5 J@F’C6 ?@E 2 E@A\a_[ E@A\aa A:4< — H96C6 E96 >@?6J D=@ED — J@F 42? AC6EEJ >F49 >2<6 E92E 😕 4@==686[” E96 ?6H (@=7A24< 4@249 D2:5]k^Am

kAmxE’D 2== A2CE @7 2 D6:D>:4 492?86 E92E 92D C:AA=65 E9C@F89 4@==686 2E9=6E:4D D:?46 E96 A2?56>:4[ :ED :>A24E E@F49:?8 E96 }qp] !=2J6CD H:==:?8 E@ “E6DE E96 H2E6CD” 😕 E96 5C27E 367@C6 C6EFC?:?8 E@ D49@@= ?@H 92G6 2 =F4C2E:G6 @AE:@? E@ 4@?D:56C 282:?DE F?46CE2:? AC@ AC@DA64ED]k^Am

kAmp?5 :E D9@HD 😕 E96 ?F>36CD]k^Am

kAm“(:E9 2== E96 >@?6J E92E’D 36:?8 E9C@H? 2C@F?5 😕 }x{[ J@F’C6 92G:?8 2 =@E =6DD A=2J6CD AFE E96:C ?2>6D :?[” k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^56EC@:E\A:DE@?D\5h64ggf52ecggeg4h`e4__4`6g45gfg4Qms6EC@:E !:DE@?D AC6D:56?E @7 32D<6E32== @A6C2E:@?D %C2;2? {2?85@?k^2m D2:5] “*@F’C6 92G:?8 AC6EEJ 8@@5 A=2J6CD AF==:?8 E96:C ?2>6D @FE]”k^Am

k9bms64=:?:?8 ?F>36C @7 62C=J 6?EC2?EDk^9bm

kAm%9:D J62C’D 5C@A 😀 D:8?:7:42?E H96? 4@>A2C65 E@ E96 J62CD 367@C6 2?J@?6 925 962C5 @7 r~’xs\`h] %96C6 H2D 2 DA:<6 @7 4@==686 A=2J6CD ;F>A:?8 :?E@ E96 5C27E 😕 E96 A2?56>:4’D 27E6C>2E9[ H96? E96J H6C6 8C2?E65 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^4@G:5\7:7E9\J62C\32D<6E32==\A=2J6CD\d_64e7dbe26`f4_7ffechc55_`4f6_ccQm2 7C66 6=:8:3:=:EJ J62Ck^2m E@ E6>A@C2C:=J >2<6 6G6? 2 7@FCE9\J62C D6?:@C 2? “62C=J” 6?EC2?E]k^Am

kAmqFE E9@D6 ?F>36CD 925 72==6? 2D E9@D6 7:G6\J62C A=2J6CD 4J4=65 @FE @7 4@==686 32D<6E32==[ 2?5 E96J’C6 ?@H 36=@H AC6\A2?56>:4 =6G6=D] %92E 564=:?6 4@:?4:56D H:E9 }x{’D yF=J a_a` 2CC:G2=[ 7C@> k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^?32\=:76DEJ=6\DA@CED\7@@E32==\4@==686\7@@E32==\eh4hd`hec44aah6h_`gea44`f_g2b3h`Qm2E9=6E6D 5@:?8 A2:5 2AA62C2?46D @C D@4:2=\>65:2 6?5@CD6>6?EDk^2m E@ 3@@DE6CD k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^?:=\4@==64E:G6D\325e52ac6_bfca452h7536ee53e246hdQm7@C>:?8 4@==64E:G6D @776C:?8 }x{ A24<286D 2>@F?E:?8 E@ 56 724E@ D2=2C:6Dk^2m]k^Am

kAmpD 2 C6DF=Eik^Am

kAm— t:89EJ\EH@ A=2J6CD 2AA62C65 @? E96 }qp’D =:DE @7 62C=J 6?EC2?ED AC:>2C:=J 7C@> p>6C:42? 4@==686D H:E9 2 D>2EE6C:?8 @7 @E96C E62>D[ 5@H? chT 7C@> a_ac W`eaX 2?5 ?62C=J cfT 4@>A2C65 E@ E96 7@FC\J62C 2G6C286 7C@> a_`e\`h W`db]dXk^Am

kAm— %9:CEJ\EH@ C6>2:?65 27E6C H:E95C2H2= 5625=:?6D[ 5@H? 7C@> ea =2DE J62C 2?5 fa]_ 7C@> a_`e\`hk^Am

kAm— p55:?8 :?E6C?2E:@?2= AC@DA64ED[ `_h A=2J6CD 564=2C65 7@C E96 5C27E[ 5@H? 7C@> a_` =2DE J62C 2?5 a_d]_ 7C@> a_`e\`hk^Am

kAm— p?5 @?=J ce C6>2:?65[ 5@H? 7C@> ff 😕 a_ac 2?5 gb]g 7C@> a_`e\`h]k^Am

k9bm|@C6 4@==686 A=2J6CD H6:89:?8 @AE:@?Dk^9bm

kAmsF<6 4@249 y@? $496J6C F?56CDE2?5D 5C27E 5J?2>:4D[ 3@E9 7@C ?@\5@F3E 9625=:?6CD 2?5 AC@DA64ED 724:?8 =6DD 4=2C:EJ] w6 D66D 4@==686 2E9=6E6 4@>A6?D2E:@? 2D 2 “=68:E:>2E6 82>6492?86C]”k^Am

kAm“w@A67F==J :E 2==@HD A=2J6CD E@ 564:56 H92E’D ECF=J 36DE 7@C E96:C 82>6[” $496J6C E@=5 E96 p!] “xE 2==@HD E96> E@ 2?2=JK6i ‘p> x 24EF2==J C625J 7@C E9:D @C ?@En’ (96C6 >@?6J 5@6D?’E 92G6 E@ 36 E96 564:5:?8 724E@C] q642FD6 :7 >@?6J’D E96 564:5:?8 724E@C[ E92E’D H9J J@F D66 <:5D ?@E DE:4<] %96 }qp’D 4FEE9C@2E] xE ;FDE :D]”k^Am

kAm%96 q=F6 s6G:=D 2C6 6IA64E65 E@ 92G6 E9C66 A=2J6CD D6=64E65 😕 E96 7:CDE\C@F?5 (65?6D52J[ :?4=F5:?8 AC6DF>AE:G6 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^2A\A=2J6C\@7\J62C\4@@A6C\7=288\e_5c4e635c64c72c74a3_f5fb365fb7_Qm}@] ` A:4< r@@A6C u=288k^2m 2=@?8D:56 E@A\`_ AC@DA64ED z@? z?F6AA6= 2?5 z92>2? |2=F249] %96J 2=D@ 925 A=2J6CD D@CE:?8 E9C@F89 5C27E 564:D:@?D]k^Am

kAmuC6D9>2? xD2:29 tG2?D — 2 D=6?56C H:?8 H:E9 6IA=@D:G6 D4@C:?8 A@E6?E:2= — H:E95C6H :?DE625 @7 492D:?8 7:CDE\C@F?5 DE2EFD E9C@F89 E96 5C27E AC@46DD] x?4@>:?8 EC2?D76C r65C:4 r@H2C5 7C@> (2D9:?8E@? $E2E6 C2A:5=J C@D6 5C27E 3@2C5D 27E6C E96 4@>3:?6 2?5 C6>2:?65 😕 E96 5C27E]k^Am

kAm“%96C6’D ?@ DF3DE:EFE:?8 E96 >@?6J J@F’C6 8@:?8 E@ >2<6 :7 J@F’C6 2 E@A\`d[ E@A\a_ A:4<[” D2:5 $496J6C[ 6?E6C:?8 *62C c k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^>2C49\>25?6DD\7:?2=\7@FC\5F<6\;@?\D496J6C\34f3`__b26`b`34agb`h45f_e2547c22Qm2D DF446DD@C E@ C6E:C65 w2== @7 u2>6C |:<6 zCKJK6HD<:k^2m] “qFE :7 J@F’C6 ?@E D@=:5:7:65 2D 2 7:CDE\C@F?5 A:4<[ H9J C:D< :E H96? J@F 42? 92G6 2 D@=:5 J62C 2?5 2 492?46 E@ 8@ FA @C 36 😕 E96 D2>6 A@D:E:@? E96 7@==@H:?8 D62D@?n”k^Am

k9amr@==686 4@>A6?D2E:@? 😀 C6\D92A:?8 E96 5C27E A@@=k^9am

kAm{2?85@?[ 9:>D6=7 2 7@C>6C sF<6 7:CDE\C@F?56C[ D66D E92E 6G@=FE:@?[ E@@]k^Am

kAmw:D !:DE@?D 925 E96:C 7:CDE A=2J@77 2AA62C2?46 D:?46 a_`h[ 3FE =24< 2 7:CDE\C@F?5 D6=64E:@? 2?5 @H? 2 D:?8=6 A:4< 😕 %9FCD52J’D D64@?5 C@F?5] u6H6C 42?5:52E6D 4@F=5 >2<6 E96 2=C625J :>A6C764E D4:6?46 @7 5C27E:?8 6G6? EC:4<:6C 😕 E9:D ?6H C62=:EJ]k^Am

kAmp44@C5:?8 E@ E96 }qp’D a_ac\ad C@@<:6 D42=6[ 2 A=2J6C 8@:?8 >:5H2J E9C@F89 E96 7:CDE C@F?5 H@F=5 >2<6 C@F89=J Sb]d >:==:@? 😕 7:CDE\J62C D2=2CJ] %92E 7:8FC6 H@F=5 5C@A E@ 23@FE Sa]g >:==:@? 2E A:4< }@] a_[ Sa]b >:==:@? 2E }@] ad 2?5 Sa]` >:==:@? H:E9 E96 b_E9 2?5 7:?2= 7:CDE\C@F?5 5C27E66]k^Am

kAmp >:?:>F> 7:CDE\J62C }qp D2=2CJn #@F89=J S`]a >:==:@?]k^Am

kAm“%96D6 }x{ A24<286D 2C6 DE2CE:?8 E@ 86E FA E@ Sb E@ Sc E@ Sd E@ Se >:==:@? 5@==2CD[” {2?85@? D2:5] “%96D6 8FJD 2C6 ?@E 8@:?8 E@ AFE E96:C ?2>6 😕 E@ 36 E96 adE9 A:4<[ @C 6G6? E96 `gE9 A:4<] %96J 2C6 8@:?8 E@ 8@ 324< E@ D49@@= 😕 9@A6D @7 36:?8 2 =@EE6CJ A:4< ?6IE J62C] (:E9 E92E A@@= @7 A=2J6CD 564C62D:?8[ :E <:?5 @7 564C62D6D E96 @55D @7 E96 =6G6= @7 A=2J6C H6 86E 2E }@] bf[ ;FDE E96 AFC6 >2E96>2E:4D]”k^Am

k9amrFCC6?E }qp A=2J6CD @776C :?D:89Ek^9am

kAmx?5:2?2 !246CD 3:8 >2? %9@>2D qCJ2?E 2?5 ~<=29@>2 r:EJ %9F?56C 4@F?E6CA2CE xD2:29 w2CE6?DE6:?[ H9@ 3@E9 A=2J65 😕 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^?32\7:?2=D\E9F?56C\492>A:@?D\g_fe2b7c5e764h3_4a33335fh7`f67bgQmE96 D6G6?\82>6 }qp u:?2=D E92E 6?565 $F?52Jk^2m[ :==FDEC2E6 {2?85@?’D A@:?E]k^Am

kAm%96J H6C6 324<\E@\324< D64@?5\C@F?56CD 😕 a_`f WqCJ2?E 2E ca[ w2CE6?DE6:? 2E cbX[ AFD965 5@H? 2 5C27E 3@2C5 762EFC:?8 62C=J\6?ECJ 4@==686 A=2J6CD 😕 bb @7 E96 c` A:4]k^Am

kAmqCJ2?E A=2J65 EH@ 4@==686 D62D@?D 2E x?5:2?2 367@C6 DE:?ED H:E9 7:G6 }qp E62>D[ :?4=F5:?8 s6?G6C’D a_ab 492>A:@?D9:A DBF25] (@F=5 E96 23:=:EJ E@ >2<6 4@==686 >@?6J 92G6 492?865 9:D ;@FC?6Jnk^Am

kAm“%@ 36 9@?6DE[ x D66 :E 7C@> 3@E9 D:56D[” qCJ2?E D2:5] “x7 J@F’C6 ?@E 8@:?8 E@ 86E 5C27E65[ J@F F?56CDE2?5 E92E 2 <:5 ?665D >@?6J E@ =:G6 😕 4@==686 2?5 6G6CJE9:?8] $@[ x F?56CDE2?5 H96C6 E96J’C6 4@>:?8 7C@> @? E92E 6?5]k^Am

kAm“qFE 7@C >6[ x E@@< E96 492?46] x 36E @? >JD6=7[ 2?5 x 36=:6G65 😕 >JD6=7[ 2?5 x H@C<65 E@ E96 G6CJ 6?5] p?5 E96 E9:?8 23@FE >6 😀 E92E :7 x H6?E 5@H?[ x H2D 8@:?8 5@H? DH:?8:?8] x 92?8 >J 92E @? E92E] u@C D@>6[ :E >:89E ?@E 36 E96 D2>6 42D6]”k^Am

kAm%96 p>6C:42?\3@C? w2CE6?DE6:? >@G65 E@ v6C>2?J 2E “ 2?5 A=2J65 😕 {:E9F2?:2 367@C6 36:?8 5C27E65] pD 96 AFE :Ei “x E9:?< 6G6CJ@?6’D ;@FC?6J 😀 5:776C6?E]”k^Am

kAm“x E9:?< J@F D9@F=5 92G6 E96 C:89E A6@A=6 2C@F?5 J@F E@ <:?5 @7 8F:56 J@F[” D2:5 w2CE6?DE6:?[ 2 ?6H=J >:?E65 }qp 492>A:@?] “x >62?[ x H2D =F4J 525[ H9@ H2D 2 AC@76DD:@?2= 367@C6[ <:?5 @7 8F:565 >6] s6A6?5:?8 @? J@FC 4:C4F>DE2?46D[ :E’D 92C5 E@ EFC? 5@H? 8F2C2?E665 >@?6J] x7 E96C6’D 2? @AA@CEF?:EJ E@ 86E 😕 2 8@@5 D:EF2E:@? 😕 E96 }qp[ J@F 5@ E92E] qFE :E’D 2 92C5 564:D:@?]”k^Am

k9amr@==686 ?@H 42? 36 >@C6 @7 2? 2==FC6k^9am

kAmpE }]r] $E2E6[ (256’D A:E49 E@ (:==:2>D :?4=F565 2 =625:?8 C@=6 2?5 2 D9@E 2E 3@@DE:?8 9:D 5C27E DE@4<]k^Am

kAm%96 e\7@@E\e ;F?:@C 2G6C2865 `d]` A@:?ED H:E9 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^>2C49\>25?6DD\2C<2?D2D\E6I2D\E649\D4@C6\cg6f67`a2cdd336b4d4ee4263ag4_42dQm>F=E:A=6 3:8 }rpp %@FC?2>6?E A6C7@C>2?46Dk^2m 2D E96 #65 #2:56CD C624965 E96 t=:E6 t:89E[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^>2C49\>25?6DD\E6I2D\E649\7=@C:52\D4@C6\b2d527faa___5ff“ghf3daeabd5d2h7Qm?62C=J 362E:?8 6G6?EF2= 492>A:@? u=@C:52k^2m]k^Am

kAm“w6 H2D >@DE =:<6=J 8@:?8 E@ 36 2 D64@?5\C@F?5 5C27E A:4<[ 2?5 9:D A24<286 96C6 😀 36EE6C E92? AC@323=J 96 H@F=5’G6 8@EE6? 2D 2 D64@?5\C@F?5 A:4<[” (256 D2:5[ 255:?8i “(6 46CE2:?=J E2=<65 23@FE E92E] (6 H6?E @G6C E92E] (6 H6?E @G6C E96 >2E9 @7 6G6CJE9:?8] (6 H6?E @G6C E96 A=2? @? 9@H E@ 244@>A=:D9 E92E]”k^Am

kAm%92E’D ?@E E@ D2J :E’D 62DJ 2E E96 4@==686 =6G6= 😕 E9:D ?6H =2?5D42A6] k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^DA@CED\4@==686\32D<6E32==\>6?D\ffh“hg4g6d4b_5beh5_e4343`4aeag5Qm#@DE6C >2?286>6?Ek^2m 😀 EC:42:?E2:?:?8 7:?2?4:2= C6D@FC46D E@ A@E6?E:2==J =2?5 @?6 A=2J6C H9:=6 C:D<:?8 >:DD:?8 @FE @? @E96CD]k^Am

kAm“xE’D E96 H2J =:76 H@CD @7 H2:E:?8 @? E96 >@?6J 2?5 H2:E:?8 E96> @FE[ 2C6 E96 36DE A=2J6CD] %92E’D H9J E96J’C6 😕 E96 5C27E AC@46DD] (6’C6 ?@E 8@:?8 E@ 36 D42C65 @7 E92E]”k^Am

kAm}@C D9@F=5 96[ ?@E H:E9 E96 2==FC6 @7 42>AFD =:76 E96D6 52JD]k^Am

kAmp! q2D<6E32== (C:E6C %:> #6J?@=5D 2?5 p! $A@CED (C:E6C {2CCJ {286 4@?EC:3FE65 E@ E9:D C6A@CE]k^Am

kAmp! }qpi k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^9F3^?32Qm9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^?32k^2mk^Am





Link

Continue Reading

NIL

NIL Money Affecting NBA Draft

This year’s drop is significant when compared to the years before anyone had heard of COVID-19. There was a spike of college players jumping into the draft in the pandemic’s aftermath, when they were granted a free eligibility year to temporarily make even a fourth-year senior an “early” entrant. But those numbers had fallen as those five-year […]

Published

on


This year’s drop is significant when compared to the years before anyone had heard of COVID-19. There was a spike of college players jumping into the draft in the pandemic’s aftermath, when they were granted a free eligibility year to temporarily make even a fourth-year senior an “early” entrant.

But those numbers had fallen as those five-year players cycled out of college basketball, and they’re now below pre-pandemic levels. That decline coincides with NIL’s July 2021 arrival, from athletes doing paid appearances or social-media endorsements to boosters forming collectives offering NIL packages amounting to de facto salaries.

As a result:

— Eighty-two players appeared on the NBA’s list of early entrants primarily from American colleges with a smattering of other teams, down 49% from 2024 (162) and nearly 47% compared to the four-year average from 2016-19 (153.5);

— Thirty-two remained after withdrawal deadlines, down from 62 last year and 72.0 from 2016-19;

— Adding international prospects, 109 players declared for the draft, down from 201 last year and 205.0 from 2016-19;

More college players weighing options

Duke coach Jon Scheyer understands draft dynamics, both for no-doubt headliners and prospects facing less clarity. He sees college athlete compensation as a “legitimate gamechanger.”

“Hopefully it allows players to decide what’s truly best for their game,” Scheyer told the AP. “It allows them to analyze: ‘Am I actually ready for this or not?’ Where money doesn’t have to be the deciding factor. Because if money’s the deciding factor, that’s why you see kids not stick. The NBA’s cutthroat. It just is.”

The Blue Devils are expected to have three players selected in the first-round Wednesday, including presumptive No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg alongside top-10 prospects Kon Knueppel and Khaman Maluach. They also had players sorting through draft decisions.

Freshman Isaiah Evans — a slender wing with explosive scoring potential — withdrew instead of chasing first-round status through the draft process. Incoming transfer Cedric Coward from Washington State rapidly rose draft boards after the combine and remained in the draft.

“There’s no substituting the money you’re going to make if you’re a top-15, top-20 pick,” said Scheyer, entering Year 4 as successor to retired Hall of Famer Mike Krzyzewski. “But if you’re not solidified as a first-round pick, why risk it when you can have a solid year and a chance to go up or be in the same position the following season?”

College compensation is re-shaping the draft pool

Langdon, himself a former Duke first-rounder, sees that evolution, too.

His Pistons had their first playoff appearance since 2019, but lack a first-round selection and own a single pick in Thursday’s second round. Fewer candidates could make the already imperfect science of drafting even trickier in this new reality.

According to the NBA’s 2024-25 rookie scale, a player going midway through the first round would make roughly $3.5 million in first-year salary. That figure would drop to about $2.8 million at pick No. 20, $2.3 million at No. 25 and $2.1 million with the 30th and final first-round draftee.

AP Basketball Writer Tim Reynolds and AP Sports Writer Larry Lage contributed to this report.

___

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/nba





Link

Continue Reading

NIL

House v. NCAA Settlement Sparks New Age of Student-Athlete Compensation | BakerHostetler

Key Takeaways The NCAA and the Power Five conferences will pay $2.8 billion in damages to current and former student-athletes as a result of their settlement of the landmark antitrust litigation. Division I colleges and universities may now directly compensate student-athletes up to a $20.5 million cap for the 2025-2026 school year – opening the […]

Published

on


Key Takeaways

  • The NCAA and the Power Five conferences will pay $2.8 billion in damages to current and former student-athletes as a result of their settlement of the landmark antitrust litigation.
  • Division I colleges and universities may now directly compensate student-athletes up to a $20.5 million cap for the 2025-2026 school year – opening the door for revenue sharing between athletic departments and their student-athletes.
  • All noninstitutional, third-party name, image and likeness (NIL) agreements valued at $600 or more must be reported and independently reviewed for compliance with the terms of the settlement.
  • The NCAA’s former limits on the number of scholarships designated for college sports teams have been eliminated and replaced with limits on the number of players a team may carry on its roster.
  • Several legal questions remain unanswered concerning the administration of the terms of the settlement agreement, including whether future distributions of school revenue will comply with Title IX.

What was once inconceivable in the world of college sports has quickly become a reality. After years of litigation over its rules against athlete compensation, the NCAA has finally changed its tone. In a highly anticipated decision issued on June 6, Judge Claudia Wilken approved the final settlement agreement between the NCAA, the Power Five conferences and a class of former student-athletes in House v. NCAA. The settlement resolves a trio of consolidated cases that allege the NCAA’s scholarship limits and additional restraints on athlete compensation violate anticompetition laws. Now, for the first time in its history, the NCAA will permit colleges and universities to directly pay their student-athletes effective July 1.

$2.8 Billion in Damages To Be Paid by the NCAA and Power Five Conferences

The terms of the settlement agreement require the NCAA to pay more than $2.8 billion in damages to members of multiple student-athlete classes to the lawsuit, which will include all student-athletes who were eligible for Division I competitions at any time on or after June 15, 2016. An overwhelming majority of the damages paid to student-athletes will go to men’s football and basketball players.

Athlete Compensation up to a $20.5 Million Cap

The settlement also outlines the NCAA’s new athlete compensation framework spanning 10 years from the date of Wilken’s final approval. The NCAA will now allow schools to pay their student-athletes up to a $20.5 million cap (the equivalent of 22% of the average athletic department revenue for Power Five conference schools) for the 2025-2026 school year and eventually up to a $32 million cap in 2034-2035. The new rules permit schools to compensate athletes via revenue sharing from funds obtained through the school’s use of the athlete’s NIL, such as profits made from television contracts and events like the College Football Playoff.

Required Reporting and Independent Review for Third-Party NIL Agreements

In a significant change from historical practice, the NCAA will not act as the enforcing authority on the rules of the settlement. Instead, the Power Five conferences will establish an independent review process for third-party NIL deals worth more than $600, including contracts between student-athletes and school-affiliated entities or individuals (i.e., boosters and collectives), which must advance a valid business purpose within a reasonable range of compensation.

The newly established enforcement agency, the College Sports Commission,[1] will be responsible for policing compliance with the terms of the House settlement and evaluating whether reported deals meet fair market value standards. The terms of the settlement require athletes to report qualifying NIL partnerships that exceed the $600 threshold to the commission, and in the event that the proposed deal does not clear the commission’s screening process (which will be conducted by Deloitte, through use of its platform NIL Go), the parties to the deal may revise their agreement or submit the issue to a neutral arbitrator before initiating any legal action.

Scholarship Limits Out, Roster Limits In

The final piece of the House settlement eliminates the scholarship limits that were previously designated by the NCAA for each sport in Division I. Going forward, schools will be able to exercise far more discretion in their assignment of scholarship money to student-athletes across all athletic programs. However, in the interest of maintaining competitive balance, the NCAA will now place firm limits on the number of athletes that a team may carry on its roster.

The initially proposed roster limits were met with several objections from student-athletes concerned that current team members, in particular walk-on student-athletes, would lose their place on their respective rosters due to cuts. For example, football rosters will now shrink to a maximum of 105 athletes and many Division I football programs have previously carried as many as 140 players on the team.[2] In April, Wilken informed the parties that she would not approve the settlement unless the agreement was revised to address the roster limit concerns raised by objectors.

Though the final settlement agreement does not grandfather current players into their respective roster spots, it clarifies that current team members will not count toward their team’s total roster calculation for the rest of their eligibility period. In the event that a current player is cut from their team, the school will be required to honor the player’s scholarship.

The House settlement’s new athlete compensation model will provide student-athletes with ample opportunities to monetize their NIL, but there are still many open questions about the ways in which the settlement terms will be administered. Wilken addressed several legal concerns raised by objectors, but ultimately, her findings could not possibly address all the potential legal challenges that may arise in the future.

Notably, objectors to the settlement have already questioned whether the damages allocation and any back payments to former student-athletes may violate Title IX by unfairly favoring male athletes over female athletes,[3] whether state NIL laws that conflict with the settlement would be preempted by the agreement, whether the $20.5 million cap affects any potential collective bargaining rights that student-athletes may attempt to assert in future efforts to unionize, and whether student athletes may assert legal challenges to the compensation model in future efforts to be recognized as employees under the Fair Labor Standards Act.


[1] https://www.collegesportscommission.org/enforcement

[2] https://sports.yahoo.com/college-football/article/with-ncaa-house-settlement-hanging-in-balance-a-new-roster-limit-proposal-has-emerged-151555698.html

[3] https://frontofficesports.com/group-of-women-athletes-files-appeal-of-house-v-ncaa-settlement-approval/

[View source.]



Link

Continue Reading

NIL

NCAA inches closer to Mark Pope’s dream by expanding to 32 regular-season games in 2026

Starting in 2026-27, college basketball teams can add one more game to their schedules. If you just heard a whoop of joy from the Joe Craft Center, it’s because we’re slowly inching towards Mark Pope’s dream of 40 regular-season games. According to Matt Norlander, this afternoon, the NCAA Division I Council is expected to approve […]

Published

on


Starting in 2026-27, college basketball teams can add one more game to their schedules. If you just heard a whoop of joy from the Joe Craft Center, it’s because we’re slowly inching towards Mark Pope’s dream of 40 regular-season games.

According to Matt Norlander, this afternoon, the NCAA Division I Council is expected to approve an increase from 31 to 32 regular-season games starting with the 2026-27 season. The Division I Men’s and Women’s Basketball Oversight Committees voted in favor of the change in March. Thirty-one games have been the max for regular-season schedules since 2006-07, when the format changed to 28 or 29 predetermined games plus three-game or two-game multi-team events. Starting in 2026, teams will have the option of adding one more regular-season game, which could take the total number of games played for teams in the NCAA championship game to 41.

Norlander says the NCAA and coaches hope the move will increase the number of quality non-conference games, the likelihood of some of those taking place in the middle of the conference schedule, and, of course, the potential for more revenue.

Multiple high-major coaches told CBS Sports in recent months that they are actively pursuing and hoping to play a nonconference game in the midst of the conference season moving forward, finding benefits in advance of postseason play in March. 

The move to 32 is also, naturally, being done with money in mind. One more game will mean one more home and/or neutral-court opportunity for a lot of high-major programs, which are now looking for revenue in any way possible after the House case settlement ushered in revenue sharing for college athletes. Home gates at games bring in more revenue to be able to pay athletes. Sources around college athletics speculated that the increase to 32 games is just the first phase, and that by early-to-mid 2030s the regular season could go to 34 or 35 games prior to the start of conference tournament play.

Matt Norlander, CBS Sports

I have a feeling Mark Pope might be one of the coaches Norlander spoke to. Pope has long advocated expanding the regular-season schedule to 40 games. Thirty-two is a good start.

“I just think it’s time to expand our season out to a 40-game season,” Pope said in late February. “Like, it should be a 40-game season, especially with all the change and the turnover and the lack of continuity of teams, and also with revenue sharing and everything else, it doesn’t make any sense that we’re at a 31-game season. It makes no sense. And so I’m a massive advocate, maybe the only one in the world. But we need to expand the season to 40 games. Even for the guys that go on to be pros, it gives them a better sense.”

Pope is already taking advantage of the NCAA’s new rules allowing Division I teams to play exhibitions against one another. Purdue and Georgetown will come to Rupp Arena in October for preseason games. He can’t get quite as creative as he’d like due to Kentucky’s prior scheduling obligations, but this should help. In May, he even suggested a 35-game regular-season schedule, telling reporters he wants to make Kentucky’s slate as challenging and entertaining as possible.

“Imagine if we have four extra games that we can put on our schedule, where we go play a big-time neutral game, and set up a home-and-home, and do an in-state game that people here really care about, and just give us a little more flexibility in this deal,” Pope said. “Come on, man, let us do a home-and-home with Kansas. Let’s go. Why am I not going to Storrs to play a game? We need some more flexibility. And also, let us get to Maui.”

Baby steps. Also, someone should probably get a head start on those Mark Pope 41-0 jerseys/shirts.



Link

Continue Reading

NIL

Ryan Conroy Returns to Elon Baseball as Pitching Coach

Story Links Elon, N.C.- The Elon baseball program and head coach Mike Kennedy has announced the hiring of Ryan Conroy as the program’s new pitching coach. A former Phoenix pitcher from 2016-18, Conroy joins the Phoenix after five years in the Baltimore Orioles farm system and a stint with Cressey Sports Performance […]

Published

on


Elon, N.C.- The Elon baseball program and head coach Mike Kennedy has announced the hiring of Ryan Conroy as the program’s new pitching coach. A former Phoenix pitcher from 2016-18, Conroy joins the Phoenix after five years in the Baltimore Orioles farm system and a stint with Cressey Sports Performance as a pitching coach.
 
“I am ecstatic with this hire. Ryan IS Elon!  He played here. Played at a high level. He loves to compete. He understands the culture and commitment it takes both on the field and in the classroom to be successful,” said head coach Mike Kennedy. “He understands how I tick, and he understands the passion I have for this great university. He cares deeply about the history of this program and those like him who poured everything they had into Elon Baseball. He worked tirelessly to be a great player and now will do the same in developing our pitching staff. Ryan is one of the best young pitching minds in baseball. The impact he will have on the development of our pitching staff will be immeasurable. If you are serious about development, there will not be a better fit. You will get better here!”
 
Conroy joins the Phoenix coaching staff after five seasons in pro baseball where he reached as high as AAA in the Orioles’ farm system. Conroy has spent the last year with Cressey Sports Performance as a pitching coach. During his time with Cressey, he worked directly with MLB All-Star and former Elon pitcher George Kirby. He also worked collaboratively with other pros such as Tanner Houck, Nick Pivetta and Jesus Luzardo.
 

During his time in the pros, he appeared in 98 games and compiled 226 professional innings. He most recently spent time with the Norfolk Tides, the Orioles AAA affiliate in 2023. Conroy was drafted by the Orioles in the eighth round of the 2018 MLB Draft after he spent three years in the maroon & gold. At Elon, he struck out 163 batters over three seasons in over 200 career innings pitched. Conroy, along with Kyle Brnovich and George Kirby, formed the Phoenix weekend rotation in 2018. The trio all spent time at the AAA-level or higher and were all drafted in the top eight rounds of the MLB Draft.
 
What they’re saying:
 
“Ryan knows firsthand what it takes to make the jump every college player dreams about, and his deep knowledge of biomechanics and how to maintain peak performance throughout a season makes him an absolute gold mine for any pitcher.  As an alum, knowing Ryan bleeds maroon and gold and fully understands the expectations here, I couldn’t be more fired up!  Huge day for Elon Baseball!”  Mike Melillo – Elon Graduate /  2010 Milwaukee Brewers Draft Pick
 
“I’m very excited to have Ryan Conroy joining the Elon Baseball coaching staff.  Ryan was not only a great player as a Phoenix but also excelled at the Professional Level.  He has proven knowledge as a pitching coach at Cressey Sports Performance where he has had the opportunity to work with some of the best arms is all of baseball…including Elon alumni.  I’m very excited to see him develop Elon’s current players and fortunate to have him join an already great coaching staff.  Elon is gaining a great coach who will have a lasting impact on the University.”  Kyle Brnovich – Elon Alum / Triple A Pitcher Baltimore Orioles
 



Link

Continue Reading

Most Viewed Posts

Trending