Tennessee QB Commit Sues Over HS NIL, 'Harmed' by $1M Losses

Key Points

• Tennessee QB commit Nico Iamaleava has filed a lawsuit against his high school.
• The lawsuit alleges that the school violated his NIL rights and caused him to lose over $1 million.
• The lawsuit is the latest in a growing number of cases involving NIL and high school athletes.

Background

Iamaleava, a 5-star quarterback, committed to Tennessee in June 2022. He is considered one of the top prospects in the 2023 recruiting class.

In July 2022, Iamaleava's high school, Warren High School in Downey, California, adopted a policy that prohibited students from profiting from their NIL.

Iamaleava's lawsuit alleges that the school's policy violated his rights under the California Fair Pay to Play Act, which allows college athletes to profit from their NIL.

Lawsuit Details

The lawsuit alleges that the school's policy caused Iamaleava to lose over $1 million in potential NIL earnings.

The lawsuit also alleges that the school retaliated against Iamaleava for speaking out against the policy.

The lawsuit seeks damages and an injunction to prevent the school from enforcing its NIL policy.

Legal Analysis

The lawsuit is likely to raise several legal issues, including:

• Whether the California Fair Pay to Play Act applies to high school athletes.
• Whether the school's NIL policy violated Iamaleava's First Amendment rights.
• Whether the school retaliated against Iamaleava for speaking out against the policy.

Significance

The lawsuit is the latest in a growing number of cases involving NIL and high school athletes.

The outcome of the lawsuit could have a significant impact on the future of NIL for high school athletes.

It could also lead to changes in the way that schools handle NIL issues.