A judge in Ohio, which is one of just 10 states that don't allow high school NIL deals, has temporarily allowed for high school students to enter into those types of contracts.
According to Associated Press, Franklin County Commons Please Court Judge Jaiza Page granted a temporary restraining order on Monday, which would allow high school athletes in the state to enter into deals that profit off their talent.
The move is in response to a lawsuit filed by Jasmine Brown, the mother of high school junior Jamier Brown, to force the courts to allow him to accept a six-figure NIL deal. Jamier is the top wide receiver prospect in the class of 2027.
Brown's mother and attorneys stated that Brown has already missed out on more than $100,000 in potential NIL deals.
"This is a significant ruling not only for Jamier but high school athletes across the state of Ohio. There are 44 states that allow high school athletes to enjoy that benefit through NIL," said Luke Fedlam, Brown's attorney with the Amundsen Davis law firm in Columbus.
OHSAA voted down an NIL proposal for high school students in 2022, 538-254. The board has another NIL proposal with new language that is set for a vote in May. However, the OHSAA has no hinted that the timetable for a vote on the new proposal could be accelerated.
"The OHSAA anticipated the judge making an initial ruling today on the NIL lawsuit to set the timeline moving forward. The OHSAA is finalizing communications regarding the next steps for our member schools and will send out details on Tuesday," said OHSAA spokesperson Tim Stried.
Another hearing on a preliminary injunction is scheduled for Dec. 15.
