Back in December 2022, the PIAA approved a policy to allow high school athletes to earn NIL deals. With that, the Name, Image, and Likeness policy, which has already changed the landscape of college sports, made its way to high school athletics. Bo Bassett, then a freshman at Bishop McCort, was one among the athletes who benefitted tremendously from that. He had already won a gold medal at the Cadet World Wrestling Championships in Hungary back in July of 2021. Understandably, his stock rose and he signed four NIL deals. And the teenage star was evidently elated about that.

“NIL is super cool. It’s a really cool opportunity for me. As you know, just in high school still, but to be able to get your name and your image and likeness out there is really awesome and and build that brand and build that following. And it’s just a testament to all my coaches and all my supporters around me,” Bassett had said in 2023. So did the opportunity to build the brand become the most important factor for Bassett in choosing the college?

Bassett, the top choice for the class of 2026, had offers from over 80 programs before he finally committed to Iowa. He has gone undefeated this entire season, boasting a high school record of 111-0, proving why he is on top. His commitment to Iowa is being tied to a likely fat NIL deal valued between $5 million and $10 million. Even though it’s not fully confirmed yet, fans’ eyes don’t lie.

His choice to sign with Iowa came after narrowing down his options to four schools—Penn State, Iowa, Oklahoma State, and Virginia Tech. He announced after a PIAA class 2A first-round team match against Corry Area, on February 4. And it has got many wondering if the financial incentives were the biggest deciding factor. Just days after Bassett’s commitment, adding fuel to the fire, Jax Forrest, another highly sought-after recruit, went for the Cowboys over every other program on February 6. The entire saga has now led Penn State’s very own four-time NCAA Division I National Champion, Carter Starocci to open up.

In a cryptic message, Starocci, one of Penn State’s brightest icons, responded on X, writing, “Don’t forget fellas, you can’t buy a national title. Those are earned. Have a good night. 🤝” And with this post, Carter Starocci made it clear where he stands on the matter, making everyone see that championship is a mindset, a lifestyle, and a hard-built legacy. Fans flood their opinions under his post, and they couldn’t agree more. He’s making it clear that for Penn State, it’s about hard work and a winning culture rather than money. It resonates perfectly with Luke Lilledahl’s take. 

The wrestler is doing just fine in his true freshman season at 125 pounds for PSU. As he put it, “I tried to take my time. There were a lot of schools reaching out to me. I kind of settled on Penn State because of the culture here, and the coaches and teammates just preach getting better. It’s not really focusing on the wins and the losses as much, and just kind of having fun improving. I think it was a really big aspect on why I came here, and I think I made the right decision,” Luke said about his decision. Indeed, it again speaks of the same culture backing the legendary Coach Cael Sanderson up.

As of February, the Nittany Lions have remained undefeated for the ongoing season of 2024-25 (10-0). Their recent victories include a 35-3 win over Rutgers on January 25 and then a 30-8 feat over Iowa on January 3, under the guidance of Head Coach Cael Sanderson, Nittany Lions are continuously blooming despite failing to get top prospects.

“Recruiting is like a long-term relationship,” Nittany Lions’ Coach clear stance

Carter Starocci’s message reflects the values that have been at the core of Penn State’s wrestling program under Cael Sanderson’s leadership. The Nittany Lions have built an undeniable dynasty over the years, and while many of their top athletes have been able to cash in on NIL deals, it’s never been their primary focus.

As Cael Sanderson has clearly said, “We’re not going to get anybody because of NIL money… We’re always going to be a little slow to change. At the same time, we’re always going to take care of our kids.” Sanderson believes in developing athletes who can achieve greatness both on the mat and beyond, making decisions that prioritize long-term success rather than immediate financial gains and Bo Nickal, one of the most influential names from Penn State’s wrestling backs this as much.

Sanderson added, “Penn State has a great alumni network, very loyal people. But our focus is always on the big picture, long-term stuff… Recruiting is like a long-term relationship. It’s like a marriage. You want it to be a two-way street, otherwise it’s just not a good long-term plan. We’re not aggressive recruiters. We just want kids to know when they come in here, we’re going to go to work for them.”

While Penn State’s approach may seem slow in comparison to schools offering massive NIL deals, it’s clear that the program’s history of producing champions speaks for itself. Starocci, who has earned multiple NCAA titles and been a key part of the team’s success, embodies the Penn State philosophy. The program doesn’t rely on flashy financial incentives to draw in recruits; instead, it focuses on building athletes into well-rounded individuals and champions.

For athletes like Bo Bassett and Jax Forrest, the financial benefits are undeniably attractive, and while Penn State may not be able to match the offers from other schools, they are betting on their culture, the coaching staff, and the rich history of success to continue to produce champions. It’s going to be so much fun to see how it goes. What do you guys think? Drop down your thoughts in the comment box below!