NC Public School Athletes’ Long Fight for NIL Rights Ends in Victory

The landscape of high school athletics in North Carolina is undergoing a transformative shift as public school athletes finally move closer to fully capitalizing on their name, image, and likeness (NIL) rights. This change, set in motion by a Wake County Superior Court ruling last month, represents a landmark victory for student-athletes and their ability to profit from endorsements and branding deals.

The catalyst for this breakthrough was a lawsuit filed by the family of Faizon Brandon, a standout quarterback at Grimsley High School and the top-ranked prospect for the 2026 class. Brandon’s case, centered on a state policy that had blocked high school athletes from participating in NIL deals, led to Judge Graham Shirley’s October ruling. The judge’s decision overturned the existing ban and paved the way for Brandon and other student-athletes to seize life-changing NIL opportunities. “We are extremely happy with the court’s well-reasoned decision today,” said Mike Ingersoll, the family’s attorney. For the Brandon family, this victory symbolizes more than a legal triumph—it’s a gateway to economic potential once out of reach for public school athletes.