NIL in Oregon: State becomes latest to allow high school athletes to profit off of name, image, likeness

By Andy Buhler | Photo by Leon Neuschwander 

Oregon became the latest state to allow high school athletes to profit off of name, image and likeness. 

The Oregon School Activities Association delegate assembly voted Monday to approve the changes to its handbook that come with several stipulations. 

Among them are rules that athletes are required to disclose agreements and can't receive deals from anyone connected to an OSAA-affiliated high school.

NIL continues to be a widely-discussed topic in college athletics, and that conversation has trickled down to the high school level. Some 20 states have crafted or changed policies about NIL, and more are talking about it, such as Oklahoma and California. 

"Basically what (other) states are trying to do that we're certainly trying to do with this proposal is in some ways to get ahead of it," OSAA Executive Director Peter Weber said during the delegate assembly meeting. "We know this is coming. We've seen it at the collegiate level. From a state association standpoint, we believe that it makes sense to provide some parameters around this." 

Students may not use school branding in any commercials, products or services.

The OSAA executive board first approved the NIL rule change in September, pending delegate assembly approval.

In May, Harvard-Westlake (California) twin girls soccer standouts Alyssa and Gisele Thompson became the first high school athletes to sign NIL deals with Nike. 

The behemoth sports apparel brand announced the signing of three basketball players on Monday: Sierra Canyon senior Bronny James, the oldest son of LeBron James; Camden (New Jersey) basketball standout DJ Wagner and girls standout Juju Watkins, who also attends Sierra Canyon.

In September, Corona Centennial (California) basketball standout Jared McCain signed a multi-year NIL partnership with Champs Sports alongside Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts.

Recruiting website On3 tabbed Bronny James' NIL valuation as the highest among high school or college athletes at $7.3 million. 

This is a developing story.