Prep School Basketball Recruiting and NIL: What Families Need to Know Now
Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals aren’t just for college athletes anymore. High school and prep school players are increasingly getting involved—and while the rules are changing fast, the opportunities and risks are real.
We touched on this topic in a recent conversation with Tom Bower, a returning guest and NIL expert with Athlete Advantage. Tom’s worked with top-tier athletes and understands the legal and financial angles of NIL inside and out. This interview is packed with crucial insights for families considering a prep school route and wondering what NIL means for them today.
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Can High School and Prep Athletes Legally Do NIL Deals?
Cory:
Can high school players or prep school players currently take advantage of NIL deals or sponsorships or get agents?
Tom:
They can in many states, yes. So if you’re at a prep school or some sort of situation where your school is not a member of the state association, then the answer is always yes. But in many states now, high schoolers are able to do NIL deals that go by the same standards—are supposed to go by the same standards and rules—which go on at the university.
There does have to be a quid pro quo. It can’t be used as an inducement to get an athlete to go from one school to another or to go to a school. But yes, in most cases around the country, high school athletes and prep school athletes can participate in NIL.
Understanding NIL Eligibility and the Role of School Oversight
Congratulations to a great young man with a bright future! Justin, we are all very proud of you. Auburn is getting a star. Jake, you’re up next.
Cory:
Tom, there’s no compliance office to check over these deals. So really it’s between the family and a business, right?
Tom:
It is. I would absolutely recommend to anybody though to keep their athletics director in the loop as to what’s going on, just to keep everything above board.
One of the things that this new NIL landscape has done is it’s taken the old way of doing things—and we’ve heard those stories for 50 years in regards to potentially paying people under the table, paper bags full of cash, different stuff like that—and eliminated the need for that.
Everything can be done out in the open and that’s what we’re a proponent of. There’s no need to hide. Everything can be done legally, everything can be done through compliance.
NIL Compliance: Shifting the Mindset Around Athlete Compensation
Tom:
We’re still, as I mentioned earlier, in this kind of infancy to toddler stage. Part of that is that I do think there’s still a sense of people being uncomfortable with the whole process because we’re just coming out of the old ways of doing things.
And any time that “player getting paid” is in the same sentence, it’s like, don’t say that too loud. Let’s keep that very quiet.
There needs to be a shift in the way that people look at this. Nobody’s doing anything wrong at this point. And I really believe that, probably in the next two to three years, but definitely when you look ten years down the road, that shift will be complete. Everybody will be way more comfortable with what’s going on.
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Build Your NIL Foundation the Right Way
Tom:
Again, most states allow high schoolers to participate in NIL. There just has to be that quid pro quo—some kind of exchange of value.
But the best thing to do? Keep your athletic director involved. Read every deal carefully. And above all, stay focused on academics and development. NIL is a great tool—but it’s only one part of the equation.
Final Word: Don’t Let NIL Distract You from the Bigger Picture
Meet Tom Bower, the driving force behind Athlete Advantage and a key voice in NIL education.
Gameplan First, NIL Second
This NIL conversation is a huge one for families considering prep schools. But as Tom emphasized, opportunities don’t mean much if you’re not grounded in the fundamentals—character, academics, development, and the right fit. NIL is part of the conversation now, even in high school—but it shouldn’t be the whole story.
If you’re looking into prep school, reach out to us at PREP Athletics. We’re here to help you explore your potential and make choices that align with your athletic and academic future. We’ve also got a long list of resources to get you started in the right direction, so check out our latest prep basketball updates on YouTube or our podcast to dive deeper.