On August 23, 2024, Rolanda Brandon filed a lawsuit on behalf of her son challenging the state of North Carolina’s ban on NIL for public high school athletes. Her son, Faizon Brandon, is currently committed to the University of Tennessee and is the number one overall ranked player for the 2026 class according to 247 Sports. His NIL valuation according to On3 is $567,000 and rising, so his ability to capitalize on that was being stifled by the state’s stance.
In April 2024, Brandon had received an offer from what the complaint called a “prominent national trading card company.” The agreement would allow Brandon to capitalize on his NIL potential until his December 2025 high school graduation date. In return, Brandon would sign memorabilia for the company. On June 6, 2024, the North Carolina Board of Education approved a temporary rule banning public high school athletes from receiving NIL compensation.
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