College Basketball Prospects Flock to 3×3 Showcase and Increase NIL Earning Power

Last weekend, high schoolers from six states flew to Minneapolis to showcase their talents at the Strictly Bball HS Nationals 3×3 event. The competition took place inside the Mall of America, a true Minneapolis landmark, and garnered a massive four-story crowd. While the on-court competition was hard fought, the showcase of talent and personality proved to be valuable in helping these prep athletes build their NIL brands before their collegiate careers.

NIL collectives pay elite athletes handsomely for their performance on the court, and it is no surprise that the highest-paid college basketball players, like two-million dollar men Great Osobor and Coleman Hawkins, often garner the most media attention. However, it is important to remember that these athletes are the exception and not the rule. The vast majority of those playing Division I basketball can earn some form of ‘pay-for-play’ payment from NIL collectives, but outside of the top 1% of collegiate talent, being a capable influencer is much more lucrative than any collective payment an athlete will receive.