Aaliyah Chavez reportedly looking for $1 million in NIL

[oldude]

There is a recent story that star TX HS guard Aaliyah Chavez, the #1 overall recruit in the class of 2025, is asking for $1 million in NIL money to sign with a college program. LSU which was in the mix has backed off Chavez, but TX & TX Tech are still in the running.

Whether or not Chavez gets $1 million in NIL remains to be seen. But surely this is another sign that the apocalypse is upon us.

 

[GoUconn7961]

LOL - If true, UConn certainly wouldn't touch her (yes I know she's not looking at them). Any kid looking for bag vs. helping a team and furthering their skills? Hmmm, I don't know.

 

[Baller29]

Back in July, LSU and Texas emerged as front runners to ultimately land Aaliyah Chavez. However, LSU has taken itself out of the running as, according to sources, her camp has asked programs for an excess of $1 million dollars in NIL support

One source believes Texas is now a strong front runner to land Aaliyah Chavez, but noted that Texas Tech could make a late push.

Found this on Texas tech board which supposedly came from Talia on On3.

I’m sure Texas and Texas tech has a wealthy booster or two who can shell out cash but a million for a HS player is insanity.

 

[yhun89]

Yeah, I’m sorry but that is some serious entitlement if it’s true. She hasn’t even proven herself at the collegiate level and she’s reportedly demanding that? That’s how much Paige makes, and Paige has a NPOY award and 3 FF’s that she lead the team to to her name. Chavez hasn’t even stepped into college yet. Sure she’s good. But who the heck demands that as a “starting salary?”

Recruiting is going down the drain little by little. Now it’s all about the money.

 

[oldude]

Yeah, I’m sorry but that is ENTITLED. She hasn’t even proven herself at the collegiate level and she’s reportedly demanding that? That’s how much Paige makes, and Paige has a NPOY award and 3 FF’s that she lead the team to to her name. Chavez hasn’t even stepped into college yet. Sure she’s good. But who the heck demands that as a “starting salary?”

Recruiting is going down the drain little by little. Now it’s all about the money.

I have seen those kind of numbers bandied about for D1 QB’s out of HS, but for a WBB player it does seem unrealistic. However, if Chavez gets anything close to her asking price, WBB will have turned a dangerous corner in the cost to field a competitive team.

 

[typhaon]

This is just the beginning. "College" sports is dead. If the sport generates significant revenue, then the players are all pro-athletes on 1-year contracts playing in a U25 (mostly) league.

Correct me on this, but I think in Europe universities have intramural sports for serious college students, but serious athletes play for sporting clubs as pro/semi-pro players and get some kind of education in between practices... but the two things are entirely separate.

 

[yhun89]

I have seen those kind of numbers bandied about for D1 QB’s out of HS, but for a WBB player it does seem unrealistic. However, if Chavez gets anything close to her asking price, WBB will have turned a dangerous corner in the cost to field a competitive team.

This is a bad precedent to set. For both the recruits and coaches. Recruits will go to a school solely for money, maybe the coaching staff isn’t great and they won’t develop enough to get to the pros. Maybe they won’t like the school or the team but they’ll suffer through it for the money. Coaches will realize they won’t get recruits unless they pay them serious money. For a program like Geno’s in which he wants people who love the game and want to go to UCONN to develop, this is a big problem.

 

[DallasDomer]

If a team does give a million or close to it that means about two million more for the rest of the team, maybe more. Even if less is accepted everyone is going to assume it's a million. Which will still ratchet up the rest of the team.

How many sponsors like Nike etc would guarantee that much $ on a player without a single minute of playing time. LSU backed away showing some sense. My opinion of TX & TX Tech went down when I read they were still in.

What about injuries? Academic eligibility? I suppose most of this could be laid off to insurance. I hope this doesn't turn into a trend.

 

[oldude]

This is a bad precedent to set. For both the recruits and coaches. Recruits will go to a school solely for money, maybe the coaching staff isn’t great and they won’t develop enough to get to the pros. Maybe they won’t like the school or the team but they’ll suffer through it for the money. Coaches will realize they won’t get recruits unless they pay them serious money. For a program like Geno’s in which he wants people who love the game and want to go to UCONN to develop, this is a big problem.

Money will certainly be a motivation for many players, but not the only motivation. Kids still want to win and develop there skills as players. Blanca Quinones took about 1 minute to accept UConn’s scholarship offer, and I suspect there was little or no discussion about NIL.

 

[Stagnant]

This is why UConn needs to get into the big 12 or the acc. They are not going to be able to compete with this new normal.

 

[JellyBean]

Oh man! This is not going to end well. If she is asking for, and gets, that amount from any program, what will those players that ranked in or near her level start to demand? Plus, what happens to those programs that give her, or players asking, for that type of money? The coach of those programs will have to be great with trying to get players to "buy in" to the program's goals and values.

Those of us that played D1 sports (basketball here) back in the 80s and 90s, know that there were players on the team that got extra perks. Did this hurt the overall team morale? To a degree. Some of us could care less. We were winning games and getting TV time. We were cool with riding the bench. Then some of us wanted minutes and created tension in the locker room and practice sessions. We shall see how all of this plays out. She (or her father) asking for a milly? Jeez! Who she thinks she is, Maya Moore? "Chris Tucker...Rush Hour Voice"

 

[diggerfoot]

This is why UConn needs to get into the big 12 or the acc. They are not going to be able to compete with this new normal.

The BE on the men’s side has been in good shape for recruiting pecisely because of NIL. Football brings in the money, but the demands of elite HS football players for NIL in a sport with large rosters neutralizes that advantage somewhat. To field an SEC or B10 level football program UConn will need to be in such a conference for the additional NIL money required. Not fielding such a team means more NIL devoted to basketball which actually levels the playing field more in that particular sport.

Having said that, your feelings towards NIL are probably shared by a majority of UConn fans, as is the desire for a competitive football program.

 

[yhun89]

Money will certainly be a motivation for many players, but not the only motivation. Kids still want to win and develop there skills as players. Blanca Quinones took about 1 minute to accept UConn’s scholarship offer, and I suspect there was little or no discussion about NIL.

UCONN players know what Geno's looking for though. He's not gonna pay you a million bucks, but he'll give you development and the skills needed to move to the pros and make money there.

What I meant by kids not getting the development in their skills was:

Chavez for example. Say she chooses Texas Tech because they're offering her a million bucks. She's turning down an experienced coach in Vic Schaefer for money. Do yo think she'd become a better player at Tech or Texas? Probably Texas. But she's choosing money over skills it seems.

 

[DRR25]

LOL - If true, UConn certainly wouldn't touch her (yes I know she's not looking at them). Any kid looking for bag vs. helping a team and furthering their skills? Hmmm, I don't know.

Sounds like she wants to do both. They aren't mutually exclusive.

 

[DRR25]

Yeah, I’m sorry but that is some serious entitlement if it’s true. She hasn’t even proven herself at the collegiate level and she’s reportedly demanding that? That’s how much Paige makes, and Paige has a NPOY award and 3 FF’s that she lead the team to to her name. Chavez hasn’t even stepped into college yet. Sure she’s good. But who the heck demands that as a “starting salary?”

Recruiting is going down the drain little by little. Now it’s all about the money.

College basketball is a business (like it or not). Chavez seems to be testing the market. In the U.S., it's all about the benjamins. I don't care for the business side of college basketball but it is what it is. Schools and the NCAA made money off of the student athletes for years and now the athletes are getting theirs. I don't know what's true or not about the million NIL claims but whatever it is, the market will dictate what Chavez gets (somebody will pay it) or doesn't get (nobody will pay it).

 

[yhun89]

College basketball is a business (like it or not). Chavez seems to be testing the market. In the U.S., it's all about the benjamins. I don't care for the business side of college basketball but it is what it is. Schools and the NCAA made money off of the student athletes for years and now the athletes are getting theirs. I don't know what's true or not about the million NIL claims but whatever it is, the market will dictate what Chavez gets (somebody will pay it) or doesn't get (nobody will pay it).

Some money is fine, but to demand 6 figures before even getting to college is ridiculous. If she ends up being a Breanna case, and doesn’t do great the first year , coaches will be pretty mad they paid her 1,000,000 for her not to live up to the hype first year. Not saying she won’t. But I am saying her asks are entitled.

 

[oldude]

UCONN players know what Geno's looking for though. He's not gonna pay you a million bucks, but he'll give you development and the skills needed to move to the pros and make money there.

What I meant by kids not getting the development in their skills was:

Chavez for example. Say she chooses Texas Tech because they're offering her a million bucks. She's turning down an experienced coach in Vic Schaefer for money. Do yo think she'd become a better player at Tech or Texas? Probably Texas. But she's choosing money over skills it seems.

We’ll see where Chavez ends up. Maybe she’s just throwing a number out there to see how teams react. Maybe she really wants to stay home and play for TX. I do wonder if she’s getting bad advice from a parent or advisor.

 

[typhaon]

the money is all relative.

$1 million in women's basketball seems like a lot today, but on the men's side you already have run-of-the-mill players getting paid 6 figures by run-of-the-mill P5 teams.

if the sport continues to grow $1m might seem like a bargain for 1 year of a top women's recruit.

if the rules don't change and as the numbers grow, if a school doesn't want to play, they are going to get left behind... history, coaching, etc. be damned.

 

[Bigboote]

But surely this is another sign that the apocalypse is upon us.

 

[azfan]

Whether or not Chavez gets $1 million in NIL remains to be seen. But surely this is another sign that the apocalypse is upon us.

Certainly NIL the transfer portal, and increased media interest has led to significant and sudden change. But apocalypse?

For decades the NCAA has served as a mechanism for exploitation. That umbrella has allowed schools to benefit off of revenue producing athletes, in the past men's football and basketball. I view it as a step forward that these young people are receiving some of the marginal revenue from their labor. I guess I also may be considered odd but I think it's also positive that women athletes have the same opportunity.

 

[azfan]

Some money is fine, but to demand 6 figures before even getting to college is ridiculous. If she ends up being a Breanna case, and doesn’t do great the first year , coaches will be pretty mad they paid her 1,000,000 for her not to live up to the hype first year. Not saying she won’t. But I am saying her asks are entitled.

????

 

[yhun89]

????

Breanna struggled a bit in freshman year from what I remember. That’s what I’m referring to. Might be remembering wrong though.

 

[azfan]

Breanna struggled a bit in freshman year from what I remember. That’s what I’m referring to. Might be remembering wrong though.

As a long time ASU, NAU and GCU fan (in addition to Connecticut) a struggling freshman Stewie is better than any player who ever played in those three programs

 

[southie]

If a team does give a million or close to it that means about two million more for the rest of the team, maybe more. Even if less is accepted everyone is going to assume it's a million. Which will still ratchet up the rest of the team. How many sponsors like Nike etc would guarantee that much $ on a player without a single minute of playing time. LSU backed away showing some sense. My opinion of TX & TX Tech went down when I read they were still in.

What about injuries? Academic eligibility? I suppose most of this could be laid off to insurance. I hope this doesn't turn into a trend.

I think you are forming your opinions based on a lot of rumors where no one went on the record. It's no coincidence this one media outlet who is reporting that these "sources" mentioned the $1 million NIL pricetag did it at the same time they were reporting that LSU was out of contention for Chavez. Certainly seems logical that these "sources" were Kim Mulkey or someone on her LSU coaching staff; they're the only ones who would have leaked this as the other finalists were still recruiting Chavez. Are they trying to muddy the waters for the other finalists, or hinder and hurt Chavez's recruitment by other colleges so that the "price" goes down and gives LSU a chance to get back in the race? Someone had an agenda leaking that information, whether it's true or not.

As a college program recruiting elite players, you can't "wait" until a high school player proves themselves in college. It's way too late; someone else already got them on campus. Yes, you can hope they enter the transfer portal but by that time the price has gone up for a freshman who had an instant impact in the game (like a Juju, Hidalgo, Booker, etc.).

As for Nike, they have been signing high school hoopsters to shoe deals for decades, I believe. Same for adidas. They didn't wait until they proved themselves in college. It's all about forecasting. If you think a high school recruit has "it", then you pull out all the stops.

 

[cancontent]

Certainly NIL the transfer portal, and increased media interest has led to significant and sudden change. But apocalypse?

For decades the NCAA has served as a mechanism for exploitation. That umbrella has allowed schools to benefit off of revenue producing athletes, in the past men's football and basketball. I view it as a step forward that these young people are receiving some of the marginal revenue from their labor. I guess I also may be considered odd but I think it's also positive that women athletes have the same opportunity.

This is such a huge point I think many forget. Yes, these athletes are getting their schooling covered, etc., but it pales in comparison to what a lot of these P4 schools have made in TV deals, sports merchandising, video games, coaching salaries, etc. The NCAA could have made adjustments a long time ago. It shouldn't have taken lawsuits like the O'Bannon case and the states bringing in legislation to get to this point.

And when the NCAA relented to NIL, they failed to put in guidelines which could have helped make things manageable. We're already seeing situations were collectives are falling apart and the money is drying up. The finger pointing should be going in all directions, not just athletes and their families. They're trying to get what they can while the iron is hot and I don't blame them.

I also cringe at the amount of money allegedly being asked for, but I also try to look at it from a long term perspective. What happens if Chavez isn't able to have a professional career for some reason? That money could help set her up long term if it's handled properly. This issue is not a black and white situation.

 

[DallasDomer]

I think you are forming your opinions based on a lot of rumors where no one went on the record. It's no coincidence this one media outlet who is reporting that these "sources" mentioned the $1 million NIL pricetag did it at the same time they were reporting that LSU was out of contention for Chavez. Certainly seems logical that these "sources" were Kim Mulkey or someone on her LSU coaching staff; they're the only ones who would have leaked this as the other finalists were still recruiting Chavez. Are they trying to muddy the waters for the other finalists, or hinder and hurt Chavez's recruitment by other colleges so that the "price" goes down and gives LSU a chance to get back in the race? Someone had an agenda leaking that information, whether it's true or not.

As a college program recruiting elite players, you can't "wait" until a high school player proves themselves in college. It's way too late; someone else already got them on campus. Yes, you can hope they enter the transfer portal but by that time the price has gone up for a freshman who had an instant impact in the game (like a Juju, Hidalgo, Booker, etc.).

As for Nike, they have been signing high school hoopsters to shoe deals for decades, I believe. Same for adidas. They didn't wait until they proved themselves in college. It's all about forecasting. If you think a high school recruit has "it", then you pull out all the stops.

I didn't evaluate the source. If it was LSU I wouldn't trust it at all but the quote I saw was "However, according to On3,..." So it sounds more credible.

 

[Baller29]

I didn't evaluate the source. If it was LSU I wouldn't trust it at all but the quote I saw was "However, according to On3,..." So it sounds more credible.

And Talia said multiple programs so suspecting she got this info from multiple parties.

 

[southie]

I didn't evaluate the source. If it was LSU I wouldn't trust it at all but the quote I saw was "However, according to On3,..." So it sounds more credible.

Not sure which quote you saw; perhaps you can link it.

The blurb from On3 reporter Talia Goodman read as pasted below and simply states "according to sources":

“Back in July, LSU and Texas emerged as front runners to ultimately land Aaliyah Chavez. However, LSU has taken itself out of the running as, according to sources, her camp has asked programs for an excess of $1 million dollars in NIL support.

Sure seems like LSU is the source.

 

[Charliebball]

I thought players "earned" most of their NIL money after they showed great talent on the court for a major program........if you're an exceptional player with flair the big NIL money will surely find you.........what if a player turns out to be less of a talent than first thought? .......does that one million dollars disappear? ...........we all know how this is going to end up.......5 - 10 programs with huge booster money will get 80% of the best talent while everybody else looks to sign the remaining recruits leading two a two or three-tier system, destroying the competitive balance WBB has achieved in recent years........very sad stuff indeed.......

 

[Charliebball]

This is such a huge point I think many forget. Yes, these athletes are getting their schooling covered, etc., but it pales in comparison to what a lot of these P4 schools have made in TV deals, sports merchandising, video games, coaching salaries, etc. The NCAA could have made adjustments a long time ago. It shouldn't have taken lawsuits like the O'Bannon case and the states bringing in legislation to get to this point.

And when the NCAA relented to NIL, they failed to put in guidelines which could have helped make things manageable. We're already seeing situations were collectives are falling apart and the money is drying up. The finger pointing should be going in all directions, not just athletes and their families. They're trying to get what they can while the iron is hot and I don't blame them.

I also cringe at the amount of money allegedly being asked for, but I also try to look at it from a long term perspective. What happens if Chavez isn't able to have a professional career for some reason? That money could help set her up long term if it's handled properly. This issue is not a black and white situation.

I don't think most fans are against any college athlete earning NIL money but to ask for a million dollar guaranty up front from the highest bidder without proving yourself seems a bit over the top........ In this social media-driven world, stars will get NIL money no matter where they play but you need to prove it on the big stage to become a top earner......,.