Is NIL coming to Indiana high school sports? IHSAA will consider proposal

Three months ago, Michigan became the 46th state to allow high school athletes to monetize their own name, image and likeness.

Indiana could be poised to join them.

The Indiana High School Athletic Association Board of Directors will vote at its annual meeting on May 4 on a “Personal Branding Activity” proposal. If the proposal passes, high school athletes would be allowed to benefit monetarily from their NIL – with specific guidelines.

Bloomfield junior Blake Neill was honored for Gary Fears Most Outstanding Player Award at the Wabash Valley Classic prior to Wednesday's game.

Washington's Steven Reynolds III (3) shoots the ball during an IHSAA 3A Sectional boys basketball game between Saint Joseph and Washington at Plymouth High School on Wednesday, March 5, 2025, in Plymouth.

Parke Heritage Wolves guard Treigh Schelsky (23) passes the ball out Saturday, March 28, 2026, during the Class 2A IHSAA boys state basketball championship game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The Parke Heritage Wolves defeated Westview, 57-56.

Mt. Vernon Marauders Luke Ertel (12) makes a layup on Saturday, March 14, 2026, during an IHSAA boys basketball regional matchup between Pike and Mt. Vernon at Southport High School in Indianapolis, Ind.

Gary 21st Century's Terrence Hayes (1) shoots the ball as Wapahani's Layton Spence (3) defends during the Gary 21st Century-Wapahani high school 2A Semi-State Semi-Final basketball game on Saturday, March 22, 2025, at Michigan City High School in Michigan City, Indiana.

Triton Central Eli Sego (23) rushes up the court Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026, during the game at Monrovia High School in Monrovia.

Bosse’s Marrius Harris (24) takes a three-point shot as the Princeton Community Tigers play the Bosse Bulldogs during the 2026 IHSAA Class 3A Boys Basketball Regional game in Huntingburg, Ind., Saturday, March 14, 2026.

Martinsville’s Grady Gardner (22) creates space against Bloomington North’s Gavin Reed during the Artesians’ matchup with the Cougars on Jan. 13, 2023.

Riley's Tyrese Jones hypes up the student section during an IHSAA boys basketball sectional championship game between Saint Joseph and Riley at Mishawaka High School on Saturday, March 7, 2026, in Mishawaka.

Centerville sophomore Shea Hollendonner looks to the basket while New Castle senior Mason Moulton (33) defends him in the first round of the IHSAA Boys Basketball Class 3A Sectional 24 at New Castle High School, Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024.

Wapahani's Camden Bell dribbles past Yorktown's Mason Trammell during a game in the semifinals of the Delaware County boys basketball tournament Friday, Jan. 16, 2026, at Delta High School in Muncie.

Fort Wayne Blackhawk Christian Brave Aiden Muldoon (2) (bottom), Linton-Stockton Miner Paul Oliver (32) and Fort Wayne Blackhawk Christian Brave Kellen Pickett (4) (right) go after at the ball during IHSAA Class 2A state finals Saturday, March 25, 2023, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Fort Wayne defeated Linton-Stockton for the title, 52-45.

Adams senior Jarvis Tolbert (11) puts up a layup through traffic during a boys basketball game against Kalamazoo Loy Norrix in the Michiana Hoops Shootout Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025, at Marian High School in Mishawaka.

Indianapolis Washington High School sophomore Roosevelt Franklin (2) drives the ball around the defense of Indianapolis Crispus Attucks High School senior Jacson Payton (23) during the first half of an Indianapolis Boys Basketball Tournament semi-final game, Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024, at Arsenal Tech High School.

Northview High School senior Brayden Goff (21) brings the ball up court during the first half of an IHSAA Class 3A regional championship game against Roncalli High School, Saturday, March 14, 2026, at Greencastle High School.

Northridge's Brady Scholl, right, drives to the basket during an IHSAA boys basketball semi-state championship game between Northridge and Crown Point at North Side Gymnasium on Saturday, March 21, 2026, in Elkhart.

Catherdral Fighting Irish Julien Smith (13) drive to the basket in the fourth quarter as Cathedral Fighting Irish defeat the Princeton Tigers 85-64 in the boys semi-state match-up at Seymour High School Saturday, March 21, 2026, in Seymour.

Silver Creek Dragon Kasen Daeger (3) drives the ball as Silver Creek Dragons are defeated 73-68 by the Cathedral Fighting Irish in the boys 3A semi-finals state basketball game, at Seymour High School Saturday, March 21, 2026, in Seymour, Indiana.

Princeton's Edwin Holmes (1) drives as the Princeton Community Tigers play the Bosse Bulldogs during the 2026 IHSAA Class 3A Boys Basketball Regional game in Huntingburg, Ind., Saturday, March 14, 2026.

Crown Point Bulldogs Dikembe Shaw (23) brings the ball into play as the Crown Point Bulldogs battled the Mt. Vernon Marauders in the Henry Community Health Boys’ Hall of Fame Classic Championship Game, Dec 23, 2025; New Castle, IN, at New Castle Fieldhouse.

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20 players who eclipsed 1,000 career points in high school

Bloomfield junior Blake Neill was honored for Gary Fears Most Outstanding Player Award at the Wabash Valley Classic prior to Wednesday's game.

1 / 20

20 players who eclipsed 1,000 career points in high school

Bloomfield junior Blake Neill was honored for Gary Fears Most Outstanding Player Award at the Wabash Valley Classic prior to Wednesday's game.

2 / 20

20 players who eclipsed 1,000 career points in high school

Washington's Steven Reynolds III (3) shoots the ball during an IHSAA 3A Sectional boys basketball game between Saint Joseph and Washington at Plymouth High School on Wednesday, March 5, 2025, in Plymouth.

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20 players who eclipsed 1,000 career points in high school

Parke Heritage Wolves guard Treigh Schelsky (23) passes the ball out Saturday, March 28, 2026, during the Class 2A IHSAA boys state basketball championship game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The Parke Heritage Wolves defeated Westview, 57-56.

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20 players who eclipsed 1,000 career points in high school

Mt. Vernon Marauders Luke Ertel (12) makes a layup on Saturday, March 14, 2026, during an IHSAA boys basketball regional matchup between Pike and Mt. Vernon at Southport High School in Indianapolis, Ind.

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20 players who eclipsed 1,000 career points in high school

Gary 21st Century's Terrence Hayes (1) shoots the ball as Wapahani's Layton Spence (3) defends during the Gary 21st Century-Wapahani high school 2A Semi-State Semi-Final basketball game on Saturday, March 22, 2025, at Michigan City High School in Michigan City, Indiana.

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20 players who eclipsed 1,000 career points in high school

Triton Central Eli Sego (23) rushes up the court Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026, during the game at Monrovia High School in Monrovia.

7 / 20

20 players who eclipsed 1,000 career points in high school

Bosse’s Marrius Harris (24) takes a three-point shot as the Princeton Community Tigers play the Bosse Bulldogs during the 2026 IHSAA Class 3A Boys Basketball Regional game in Huntingburg, Ind., Saturday, March 14, 2026.

8 / 20

20 players who eclipsed 1,000 career points in high school

Martinsville’s Grady Gardner (22) creates space against Bloomington North’s Gavin Reed during the Artesians’ matchup with the Cougars on Jan. 13, 2023.

9 / 20

20 players who eclipsed 1,000 career points in high school

Riley's Tyrese Jones hypes up the student section during an IHSAA boys basketball sectional championship game between Saint Joseph and Riley at Mishawaka High School on Saturday, March 7, 2026, in Mishawaka.

10 / 20

20 players who eclipsed 1,000 career points in high school

Centerville sophomore Shea Hollendonner looks to the basket while New Castle senior Mason Moulton (33) defends him in the first round of the IHSAA Boys Basketball Class 3A Sectional 24 at New Castle High School, Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024.

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20 players who eclipsed 1,000 career points in high school

Wapahani's Camden Bell dribbles past Yorktown's Mason Trammell during a game in the semifinals of the Delaware County boys basketball tournament Friday, Jan. 16, 2026, at Delta High School in Muncie.

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20 players who eclipsed 1,000 career points in high school

Fort Wayne Blackhawk Christian Brave Aiden Muldoon (2) (bottom), Linton-Stockton Miner Paul Oliver (32) and Fort Wayne Blackhawk Christian Brave Kellen Pickett (4) (right) go after at the ball during IHSAA Class 2A state finals Saturday, March 25, 2023, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Fort Wayne defeated Linton-Stockton for the title, 52-45.

13 / 20

20 players who eclipsed 1,000 career points in high school

Adams senior Jarvis Tolbert (11) puts up a layup through traffic during a boys basketball game against Kalamazoo Loy Norrix in the Michiana Hoops Shootout Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025, at Marian High School in Mishawaka.

14 / 20

20 players who eclipsed 1,000 career points in high school

Indianapolis Washington High School sophomore Roosevelt Franklin (2) drives the ball around the defense of Indianapolis Crispus Attucks High School senior Jacson Payton (23) during the first half of an Indianapolis Boys Basketball Tournament semi-final game, Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024, at Arsenal Tech High School.

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20 players who eclipsed 1,000 career points in high school

Northview High School senior Brayden Goff (21) brings the ball up court during the first half of an IHSAA Class 3A regional championship game against Roncalli High School, Saturday, March 14, 2026, at Greencastle High School.

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20 players who eclipsed 1,000 career points in high school

Northridge's Brady Scholl, right, drives to the basket during an IHSAA boys basketball semi-state championship game between Northridge and Crown Point at North Side Gymnasium on Saturday, March 21, 2026, in Elkhart.

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20 players who eclipsed 1,000 career points in high school

Catherdral Fighting Irish Julien Smith (13) drive to the basket in the fourth quarter as Cathedral Fighting Irish defeat the Princeton Tigers 85-64 in the boys semi-state match-up at Seymour High School Saturday, March 21, 2026, in Seymour.

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20 players who eclipsed 1,000 career points in high school

Silver Creek Dragon Kasen Daeger (3) drives the ball as Silver Creek Dragons are defeated 73-68 by the Cathedral Fighting Irish in the boys 3A semi-finals state basketball game, at Seymour High School Saturday, March 21, 2026, in Seymour, Indiana.

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20 players who eclipsed 1,000 career points in high school

Princeton's Edwin Holmes (1) drives as the Princeton Community Tigers play the Bosse Bulldogs during the 2026 IHSAA Class 3A Boys Basketball Regional game in Huntingburg, Ind., Saturday, March 14, 2026.

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20 players who eclipsed 1,000 career points in high school

Crown Point Bulldogs Dikembe Shaw (23) brings the ball into play as the Crown Point Bulldogs battled the Mt. Vernon Marauders in the Henry Community Health Boys’ Hall of Fame Classic Championship Game, Dec 23, 2025; New Castle, IN, at New Castle Fieldhouse.

“The question I ask is, ‘Is it time for us to be in the NIL space or not?’” IHSAA commissioner Paul Neidig said. “If we are, this is what it could look like.”

Neidig and the IHSAA made eight visits around the state the past two weeks to discuss the upcoming proposals, including the potential to allow NIL. The Personal Branding Activity (PBA) proposal has gained support from about half of the principals and athletic directors during the straw polls. At Plainfield on Friday, 24 of the 51 votes were in favor.

“It fits within our amateur rule we currently have,” Neidig said. “You own your own name. I think people understand that. (The proposal) is very similar to what a lot of states do.”

Under the PBA proposal, an athlete could utilize their NIL as long they aren't depicting any affiliation with a member school – or using school facilities or property – in association with receiving PBA compensation. For example, an athlete could rep a sporting goods company that sells athletic apparel as long as they do not represent the school.

“If I’m an athlete and an apparel company comes to me and asks me to use my social media to promote our product and an athlete does that, that would be fine as long as they don’t say, ‘I’m the point guard at this school’ and I’m in uniform,” Neidig said. “You own your name. You don’t own the school’s name. But if you go to the YMCA and teach somebody how to hit a baseball or softball, you could do that under your own name.”

There are several prohibited PBA activities in the proposal, including activities organized or sponsored by a member school. An athlete may provide the following activities if not associated with member school representation:

Instruction services: Individual or group instruction, lessons, clinics or camps.

Appearances and demonstrations: Participation in events, exhibitions, or promotional activities that may involve athletic skill, provided such participation is not tied to member schools or competitions.

Private training and coaching: Providing training or coaching services to individuals or teams not affiliated with the member school.

Neidig said the use of a collective, which has been utilized in college sports through athletic department boosters, would be strictly prohibited.

“I don’t believe we can ever be in the business of collectives,” Neidig said. “It has the potential to separate the haves and have nots like we have never seen before in education-based athletics. I think that’s the biggest concern (from administrators). There’s some fear of the unknown. I don’t think it will be a big deal (as constructed) but with the college connotation and four major universities in our state involved in the NIL space, you can see how it has the ability to affect balance, especially at schools that are more affluent.”

In contrast to the legislative pressure that eventually led to the IHSAA passing the one-time transfer rule last spring, Neidig said that has not been the case with NIL. Ohio did face pressure after a lawsuit filed by the mother of an athlete who claimed her son lost more than $100,000 in potential NIL deals because of the state’s ban on monetizing NIL.

In an emergency referendum last November, Ohio’s state association passed a rule allowing high school athletes to make money off NIL. Alabama, Hawaii and Mississippi are currently the other states that do not allow high school athletes to profit off NIL.

Under the proposal, athletes must notify the school athletic director within 48 hours of entering into a PBA agreement. Schools may review PBA agreements to ensure compliance but may not prohibit compliant activities.

“The college connotation of NIL is no longer NIL,” Neidig said. “It’s using university dollars to pay for performance. The philosophy behind this is basically that we all own our name and our ability to make money based upon our name.”

Call Star reporter Kyle Neddenriep at (317) 444-6649.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: IHSAA will consider proposal to allow high school athletes to monetize NIL