For teams like Seton Hall, Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals have been a pebble in the shoe. The Pirates have been on a downhill trajectory this season, losing their star player to insufficient NIL funds. The financial opportunities have been a deal breaker for athletes of late, with a few coaches evidently facing a downside. But a former four-star Duke recruit is here to prove it isn’t all for selfish reasons.

While NIL deals have come to promote a flashy lifestyle, Jaemyn Brakefield has found a way to change lives with it, instead. The current forward for the Ole Miss Rebels isn’t just an athlete using NIL to better his own life—he’s using it to change the life of a 16-year-old from West Virginia.

The tale of two brothers began eight years ago at Huntington Prep. Back then, Brakefield was a budding basketball star, while Brandon was the nephew of their coach, Arkell Bruce. Every time Jaemyn played on the court, Brandon was there with his uncle, just like a manager. The former, admittedly one to take on a brotherly role easily, found it easy to connect to Brandom, who often saw his dad out of state; a situation similar to that of Jaemyn.

It was the shared experiences that helped them grow closer. “I see a lot of myself in him,” Jaemyn said. Fast forward to today, Jaemyn’s NIL earnings enable him to provide Brandon with a fresh start.

“Mississippi is just a way better environment [for me] than West Virginia,” Brandon said. “In West Virginia, there’s nothing to get into besides trouble, really. It’s just, like, a bad environment. So I just wanted to come here and get a fresh start.” And he did.

Thanks to monetary support, Brandon now lives with Jaemyn in Oxford, Mississippi, where the environment is far more conducive to his growth than his old home in West Virginia. And it’s all visible. In just a couple of months, Brandon has lost 50 pounds, improved his grades, and even joined his high school football team, developing a new level of confidence.

Jaemyn grew up with a brotherly support himself

Both the boys shared similar experiences while growing up. They understand what it means to need a guiding hand, as both of them grew up without their fathers around. For Jaemyn, the role he plays for Brandon was once played by Andrew Knaack. When Jaemyn was young, his father lived out of state.

During that time, it was Andrew who shot basketball with him, threw the football, and showed him attention. Jaemyn found support in a 39-year-old veteran who served in Iraq and is 15 years his senior.

“I’ve always been like a big brother to people because others did the same for me when I was younger,” Jaemyn shared. But for him to play that role, NIL turned out to be the game changer. “Without NIL, none of this would’ve been possible.”

For Jaemyn, this isn’t just about changing Brandon’s life—it’s about giving back. In a world where NIL is often criticized, Jaemyn Brakefield is proving that it can be a force for good. He is currently averaging double-figures while boasting 49k followers on social media. With whatever comes his way, Jaemyn is determined to give back.