Nike announced NIL deals with five high school and college basketball players on Monday: Bronny James, Caitlin Clark, Haley Jones, DJ Wagner and Juju Watkins. James, a high school senior at Sierra Canyon outside Los Angeles, joins his father LeBron, who signed a lifetime deal with Nike in 2015 that is reportedly worth more than $1 billion.
Athletes in 2021 were given the ability to profit off name, image and likeness. This applies to all members of the NCAA and certain high schoolers based on state. It is permitted in California and New Jersey, where James, Watkins and Wagner reside.
James is ranked No. 41 in the class of 2023 according to 247Sports. He has yet to make a decision to attend college next year or enter the professional ranks.
Watkins is the No. 2 player in the 2023 class, per ESPN. She attends the same high school as James and is being courted by many of the nation’s top programs.
Wagner, the son of former NBA player Dajuan Wagner, is the No. 2 player in the 2023 class according to 247Sports. He has not committed to a college program but has taken official visits to Kentucky and Memphis. Both schools are sponsored by Nike.
Clark, a guard at Iowa, was named 2022 Big Ten Player of the Year and a first-team All-American after averaging 27 points, eight assists and…
