The money is showing up.
The education isn't.

More than half the states in the country now let high school athletes make money off their name. Brands are reaching out through DMs, offering deals to sophomores and juniors. That's real money hitting real bank accounts.

But nobody teaches you what happens after you say yes. Not your school, not your coach. The financial literacy classes that exist (if your school even has one) don't cover 1099 income, self-employment tax, or what an exclusivity clause actually means for your next four years.

Most NIL resources out there are built for college athletes with agents and managers. They're not built for the 16-year-old who just got offered $500 for a post through Instagram DMs and has no idea what to do next.