Bryce James’ $1.2 Million Has a Contender as New Law Helps Another 16-Year-Old to Compete With LeBron James’ Son Financially in High School

The Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals changed the whole landscape when they were introduced in July 2021. While all college students rejoiced since theft could now make cash even before going professional, a host of states, including Florida, did not allow the law to be enacted for high schoolers. This put the high school athletes at a disadvantage, as some students could gain access to better training and opportunities, making a name for themselves, while those in Florida suffered. 

One name that often had the fans sympathizing with was Cameron Boozer. Boozer is the son of ex-NBA player Carlos Boozer and attends Christopher Columbus High School. Boozer is a top prospect for a number of colleges, including Duke, Florida, Florida State, Kentucky, and Miami. However, Boozer couldn’t capitalize on his reputation, but now that has changed.

Cameron Boozer might be a tough competitor for Bryce James

In a major turn of events, the Florida High School Athletic Association allowed its athletes to take complete advantage of the NIL and voted for high schoolers to pursue their lucrative dreams from the start of the 2024–25 season. One person who can immensely benefit from the opportunity, given his reputation, is Boozer.

With this new law, fans might see a change in the NIL rankings. Currently, NBA legend LeBron James‘s younger son, Bryce James, occupies the top place among high school athletes in NIL. He has an NIL valuation of $1.2 million, as per ON3. James Jr. plays for Sierra Canyon High School in Ohio, which permits its athletes to sign money-minting deals.

Whereas the previous laws for Florida did not allow that for high school players.  As per Opendorse, amateurism by law states that the student who takes part in NIL deals will lose his/her amateur status. The law read that “capitalizing on athletic fame by receiving money or gifts of a monetary nature” was a big prohibition. Hence, with the current and newly passed law, it looks as if Boozer will bypass Bryce in the long run, considering he is already seen as a major talent by balling officials and fans. And different states have different regulations for the law.

But is NIL effective?

The controversy surrounding the whole NIL deal has had different standings in every state. While Georgia joined in last autumn, Wisconsin officials still wanted the ban to be kept in their state, primarily since they felt that this law could be detrimental to high school athletes who could be taken advantage of.

Another reason for states not joining the NIL bandwagon is that it can be dangerous for collective qualities such as teamwork since some athletes at a tender age get star status while their teammates find it difficult to have the same lifestyle. Now that Boozer can capitalize on his earnings with the new law, it remains to be seen how much competition he will give Bryce. Fans of both players will be excited to see their favorites battle off-court. Meanwhile, the effectiveness of the NIL still remains obscure and only time will tell the answer.