Tre Johnson, nation's top 2024 prospect, signs NIL deal after leaving Texas

Tre Johnson, the nation's top rated high school basketball prospect in the class of 2024, recently signed with an agency to help navigate the name-image-likeness landscape after moving out Texas, a state that has among the country's strictest NIL laws.

It didn't take long for Johnson to ink his first deal.

Johnson signed an NIL agreement with Panini, a trading card company that sells licensed collectibles, the company announced Tuesday. The 6-foot-6 guard is the first high school athlete signed by the Irving, Texas-based company, which also has deals with the likes of Luka Doncic, Charles Barkley, Kylian Mbappe and Amen and Ausar Thompson.

Terms around the "multi-year" partnership include autographed trading cards and memorabilia, Panini said.

The deal is possible because of Johnson's move to defending national champion Link Academy in Missouri from defending UIL Class 6A champion Lake Highlands (Texas) — a state that passed legislation in May that would allow high school athletes to start bringing in endorsement money after they sign with a college. 

Texas laws are more restrictive. High school athletes must wait until college altogether to capitalize on NIL, though legislation has been introduced that would open the door for NIL with many stipulations if passed.

The NFHS, the governing body for high school state athletic associations, has been outspoken against NIL, but states have largely adopted their own rules and laws — some much more lenient than others.

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“It’s always been a dream to have my own trading card, and now through my partnership with Panini, it’s happening,” Johnson said in a press release. “I’m excited for my first basketball trading cards and can’t wait to keep working together on more fun projects.”

It's not immediately known what kind of role the ability to profit off of his own name, image and likeness played in the Dallas, Texas native's decision to transfer out of Texas.

As a junior, Johnson led Lake Highlands to a UIL Class 6A state championship in March, defeating Beaumont United in the title game. The uncommitted 6-foot-6 guard averaged 21.8 points and 6.4 rebounds on the season and has narrowed his college options to six: Alabama, Arkansas, Baylor, Kansas, Kentucky and Texas.

He is playing with the USA Men's U19 National team in the FIBA U-19 Men's World Cup in Hungary. The tournament runs through July 2.

Johnson's transfer marks the second consecutive year Link Academy, an upstart national prep program, has lured a five-star prospect from Texas. Last summer, McDonald's All-American and Baylor signee Ja'Kobe Walter left McKinney and helped the Lions win a GEICO Nationals title.