Why Texas High School Hoopers Are Leaving for NIL Opportunities

Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) has become one of the biggest shifts in modern sports. While college athletes nationwide are signing deals, high school players in Texas face a unique problem: the state doesn’t allow them to profit from NIL while in high school.

The result? Some of Texas’ most talented athletes are leaving the state early to play their final high school years elsewhere — where NIL money is allowed. Once they leave, many don’t return for college, and Texas programs lose elite homegrown talent to out-of-state schools.

For girls basketball, the impact is even sharper. Texas produces some of the deepest AAU and high school talent pools in the country, but when NIL laws force players to relocate, the state loses both its stars and the excitement that keeps younger athletes engaged. Meanwhile, other states are embracing NIL and attracting top talent.

This debate isn’t just about money — it’s about opportunity and fairness. Athletes who spend hours in the gym deserve the chance to benefit from their name and hard work, just like their peers across state lines. And until Texas laws change, the state risks watching its next generation of stars develop and shine elsewhere.

👉 NIL is about more than contracts — it’s about confidence. That’s why we created the Faith Over Fear Hoodie, a reminder that young athletes should never be held back from chasing their dreams, on or off the court.

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