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RALEIGH, N.C. — A Wake County judge’s ruling on Tuesday brings name, image and likeness one step closer to reality for N.C. public school athletes.

HighSchoolOT.com reports Wake County Superior Court Judge Graham Shirley ruled that NIL could go into effect. The ruling comes after a lawsuit from the family of Faizon Brandon, regarded as the top high school prospect in the state. He has committed to play at Tennessee in 2026 and was offered an NIL deal.

Could NIL be option for NC high schools?

NIL allows athletes to profit off their name, image and likeness. It would allow for such things as commercial endorsements and public signings to take place for profit, barring that the high school they represent is not mentioned.

Private school athletes from schools like Pungo Christian and Terra Ceia Christian already have the chance to profit from NIL after their governing body passed the issue earlier this year.

Thoughts on NIL for high schoolers

Shirley ruled NIL for public schools would go into effect for 2025-26 school year. HighSchoolOT.com reports the change would not take effect until a written order is signed by the state board of education.