Top West Michigan basketball stars love the idea of NIL for high school athletes

West Michigan basketball standouts, from left, Durral Brooks (Grand Rapids Catholic Central), Cam Ryans (Northview) and Nate Johnson (Grand Rapids Christian) pose before playing in a Fall League tournament in Grand Rapids on Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023. (Photo | Lenny Padilla).

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The state of Michigan is one step away from allowing high school athletes to financially benefit from their name, image and likeness (NIL). 

The Michigan House of Representatives voted 66-43 in favor of the bill on Oct. 19. It now needs to pass in the Michigan Senate and then get Gov. Whitmer to sign the bill. 

There are 31 states that have some version of an NIL deal.

Some of the top high school basketball players in West Michigan love the idea. 

“I think its good that Michigan is catching up to some other states,” said Durral Brooks, a senior at Grand Rapids Catholic Central. “Some states have been doing this for awhile now. I think its a good opportunity to learn about the business world outside of basketball.”

Brooks, a 6-foot-2 guard, has committed to play basketball at the University of Michigan.

“I think it would benefit everybody,” said Nate Johnson, a senior at Grand Rapids Christian. “People like Phat (Durral Brooks), Cheeks, Trey (McKenny) … it would help get their name out there across the country, not just in the Midwest.”

A copy of the entire bill is posted at the end of this story. Here is a breakdown of some of the items listed in the bill: 

• Cannot have endorsements related to alcohol, adult entertainment, firearms, tobacco products or wagering among other like-minded stipulations.

• No performance-based deals.

• Schools and coaches cannot use NIL to persuade an athlete to go to their school.

• The high school must be notified of an NIL deal within seven days and the MHSAA has to approve every contract.

• Must have a legal guardian’s consent. 

• Apparel deals are allowed, with stipulations (see Section 15 below).

• Not allowed to miss school for an NIL meeting. 

• Allows school employees to help athletes find NIL opportunities as long as the employee doesn’t serve as an agent and doesn’t benefit in any way.

• Students can have a certified agent. 

Northview’s Cam Ryans, one of the top sophomores in the state, is in favor of the idea of Michigan approving NIL.

“I like the idea,” said Ryans, a 6-foot-4 guard/forward. “There’s a lot of great players in the state of Michigan. Including the guy standing right here in Durral Brooks. It would help guys like him get brand deals.”

Camden Karel, a 6-foot-9 forward from Byron Center, said being an athlete can be a full-time job. So getting help financially from playing basketball would be a big help.

“For my situation, I can’t really get a job right now because I’m working so hard with basketball,” he said. “I don’t really have time for a job like most people do.”

Karel, a junior, has nine Division I basketball offers.

“It would help make me feel more independent,” Karel said. “It would be a cool way, for me as a basketball player, to earn some money.”

Byron Center junior Camden Karel puts up a shot during a team basketball camp at Hope College in June, 2023. He has nine Division I offers. (Photo | Lenny Padilla).

Johnson, a 6-foot-4 senior forward, has an offer from Central Michigan. He said having the ability to use NIL is a bigger deal for the younger athletes.

“I think this will benefit people in the future more than it would help us,” he said of seniors. “It would help build their base quicker.”

Ryans would fall into that category. But he said he’s just focused on basketball.

“I’m just going to keep playing basketball,” Ryans said. “I’m not planning on trying to find brand deals. I mean, if it happens, I’ll be glad, but I’m not going to be searching for any deals.”

Brooks, a senior, won’t benefit directly from a high school NIL deal, but he’s already working on opportunities when he gets to Ann Arbor. 

“Obviously, we plan on signing some kind of contract in the future, whether its with basketball or not,” Brooks said. “It’s important to learn how to read contracts so you aren’t getting screwed for the future. But I’m not too focused on that right now. I’m focused on the (high school) season.” 

If the NIL bill passes, it likely will only benefit the top tier athletes in basketball and football. But that doesn’t mean that athletes in all sports can’t earn money as well. 

The original bill also could be amended, if the Senate has concerns. Many of the 31 other states that have NIL have said that athletes cannot use the name or logo of their high school in any promotions. 

For more, check out the story written by Fox17 from Oct. 20 on where the MHSAA stands on NIL.