And why an ecosystem that prioritizes the best interest of student athletes is required.

Written By, Vanessa Cole

April 8, 2025

High school and college athletics are evolving—rapidly. But are the systems meant to guide young athletes through this evolution keeping up in their best interest?

If you’re a coach, parent, trainer, counselor, or anyone who supports young athletes, you’ve likely witnessed firsthand how the introduction of the NCAA Transfer Portal and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) rights have reshaped recruitment. High school athletes, no matter how talented, are increasingly being overlooked—not because of a lack of ability, but because they’re not as immediately “game ready” as transfers with college-level experience.

University programs now prioritize seasoned transfers, and in doing so, inadvertently push high school seniors to the sidelines. This trend could soon become even more restrictive. The proposed NCAA/Deloitte clearinghouse model, which could introduce caps on rosters and NIL access, may escalate the already intense competition and costs tied to high school sports—further narrowing the window of opportunity.

We must recognize that student-athletes are still developing—physically, emotionally, and mentally—at the high school level. Yet, the current system increasingly demands maturity on an accelerated timeline, favoring those who’ve been prepped or privileged enough to thrive in this pressurized space. That’s not sustainable—or equitable.

This is where the junior college (JUCO) or post-grad route deserves renewed respect.

These alternative pathways are not fallback options—they’re strategic, developmental bridges. For many athletes, JUCO & post grad represents the time and space to grow—not just as players, but as people. It offers a crucial reset, allowing athletes to refine their skills, mature academically, and prepare for the demands of Division I competition and the business reality of modern college sports.

Recent developments, such as the temporary NCAA waiver granting JUCO athletes extended eligibility for the 2025–26 season, show promise. Legal decisions, like the injunction granted to quarterback Diego Pavia, suggest there’s a growing awareness that eligibility policies should reflect the real-life journeys of student-athletes, not just bureaucratic standards.

But these measures must become more than temporary exceptions—they should form the foundation of a more flexible, inclusive system. A system that prioritizes long-term development over short-term results. A system that recognizes the value of alternative routes in preparing student-athletes for a world where they are not just competitors, but entrepreneurs in a billion-dollar industry.

True opportunity in this space means more than playing time. It means access to quality coaching, strength and conditioning, nutrition, mental wellness resources, and academic pathways that teach financial literacy, media skills, legal rights, and business acumen. These athletes deserve access to independent representatives who can advocate for their best interests—not systems where the very institutions that profit from NIL are also the gatekeepers of its oversight.

If handled with integrity and genuine intent, this could be a rare moment where reform actually prioritizes the student-athlete. From the chaos of deregulated systems can come a structured, supportive ecosystem—one that cultivates both performance and well-being.

As parents, coaches, and educators, we have the responsibility—and the opportunity—to see JUCO and post-grad opportunities for what they are: not a Plan B, but a powerful Plan A.

With policy discussions and structural shifts happening now, this is the time to elevate the voices of those directly impacted—our student-athletes.

Let’s make sure they are not just seen, but heard.

* More on our Photographed Athlete

Preston is part of the 2025 graduating high school senior class. He is a community ambassador for our organization, an honor roll student and a highly skilled 6'10" basketball player who has trained with and played for some of the highest level coaches in California. Throughout his pathway, as a student athlete, Preston has put high value and commitment toward honing his basketball skills & talent through the non-traditional high school journey that his naturally became-- beginning in a public high school, then shifting into a national prep academy and then joining a private Catholic High School within the Mission League. Preston's senior season was complicated by two rolled ankle injuries and a CIF transfer sit out period. Now in spring, he decided to forgo larger known circuit AAU opportunities to join an independent circuit team focused on development.

Preston's pathway represents an example of today's high school student athletes-- a unique evolution toward desired and personalized development beyond traditional stepping stones-- requiring the space, holistic support, relevant development and appropriate policies that respect the journey. Preston's path is preparing him, through experiences, challenges and skills development for success at the next levels of basketball & life-- on a timeline all his own. If supported, his aspirations of committing to a university, where he will further develop and may potentially reach the NBA as a groomed and prepared player, person AND value-based entrepreneur, opens the potential for positive & impactful contributions to society... an ROI, we think, is well worth opening policies that position the best interest of today's student athletes.