Valley Prep Boosters Create NIL Collective
College sports, especially football and basketball, have been changed dramatically by NIL (name, image, and likeness). Many players simply choose their college based off which college will pay the most NIL money. In addition to NIL, the transfer portal is making a huge impact on college sports. Players can switch schools freely with no restrictions. Players are basically free agents each year, and many leave a school because another one will pay them more money.
Just about all major Division 1 colleges have NIL collectives, and some smaller schools have collectives as well. Now, some community colleges have formed collectives to pay their athletes. But, the trend really hasn’t trickled down to high schools across the country. I’ve heard about a few high school athletes receiving NIL money, but it’s rare. That is about to change in The Valley.
Valley Prep’s boosters have recently formed a NIL collective called The Standard Collective. Valley Prep’s motto is “Set the Standard”, so the collective name comes from their motto. From my recent story about Valley Prep, you know that athletics are not a big focus for the school. The Standard Collective will not be for athletics; it’s going to initially be for Valley Prep’s chess and debate teams.
Valley Prep’s chess team is the best in the state bar none. They have won the state championship 7 out of the past 8 years, and 5 times in a row. Valley Prep’s debate team is also the best in the state; they’ve won 4 consecutive state championships and 5 out of the past 6. These mental athletes are the top performers at Valley Prep, and they’re some of the most sought after students in the state. Most receive scholarship offers from Ivy League schools and other prestigious universities. As Valley Preppers say, “From The Valley to the Ivy.”
The Standard Collective was formed 3 weeks ago, and it was spearheaded by Bobby Fisher. Fisher said, “We’re very excited about the Standard Collective. We have some of the best mental athletes in the state and in the country, and we want to do everything to keep them at Valley Prep. Many of our chess and debate team members have gotten offers from other schools, and the Standard Collective will help keep our talented students at Valley Prep. It will also help us attract even more mental athletes to Valley Prep. The future is bright for Valley Prep and the Standard Collective. As we say here at Valley Prep- “We set the standard.”
This is the first NIL collective in the state for high schoolers, and it’s interesting that it’s not even for football or athletics. I talked with multiple Valley Prep stakeholders, and the feedback I received about the Standard Collective was mixed.
One Valley Prep football player’s father told me, “To be honest, I think this is a load of crap. Our football team is horrible and has been horrible for a while; the collective money needs to be used for football. The chess and debate teams are already stacked, so they don’t need help. The football program needs help Mr. Fisher! Come on man!”
I talked with Valley Prep’s Director of Academic Achievement, Cornell Brown-Yale, and he said, “We are so excited about the Standard Collective. This will help our mental athletes get the compensation they deserve, and it will help us attract even more top notch chess players and debaters in the state. Some may feel this is a little much for high school students, but we think this will become more common in the future. As usual, Valley Prep is setting the standard.”
The Standard Collective will begin accepting contributions next month. They are urging Valley Prep alumni to donate to this trend-setting organization. It will be interesting to see if other schools in The Valley and the state start paying high school athletes. As usual, you can count on the SRVO to keep you informed, and we’ll do that about Valley Prep and the Standard Collective.
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