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Who should a young player trust: agents, NIL advisors and recruiting services?

By McKinley Malbrough III, J.D., MS-HRM · Certified WNBA player agent · Former certified NBA agent

Published September 27, 2026. Last updated September 27, 2026.

Who does what?

• Certified player agent. Negotiates professional contracts. Representing NBA or WNBA players requires certification from that league's players association, and overseas deals require a FIBA license. Division I men's basketball players weighing the NBA draft can use an NCAA-certified agent without automatically losing eligibility, per the NCAA.
• NIL representative or advisor. Finds, negotiates and manages endorsement deals. Under NCAA Division I rules, using a professional services provider such as an agent for NIL activity is permissible, per the NCAA. There is no single national license for NIL reps.
• Recruiting service. Sells profiles, film packaging and outreach to college coaches. It cannot promise a scholarship, and coaches recruit players they have seen play.
• Trainer. Develops skills and strength. A good trainer is valuable. A trainer who also wants a cut of future contracts is acting as an agent.

What does the law require of agents?

The federal Sports Agent Responsibility and Trust Act, known as SPARTA, makes it illegal for an agent to recruit a college athlete with false or misleading information, or to give the athlete or anyone associated with the athlete anything of value before an agency contract is signed, per the NCAA. SPARTA also requires agents to warn athletes that signing can affect NCAA eligibility, per Sportico, and the Federal Trade Commission began revisiting how agents comply with it in 2026.

More than 40 states have adopted the Uniform Athlete Agents Act, which requires agents to register with a state authority, disclose criminal and disciplinary history, and use written contracts with an eligibility warning, per Wiley. The NCAA explains why these laws exist on its Uniform Athlete Agents Act page.

What are the red flags?

• Large upfront fees. Legitimate agents and most NIL reps are paid a percentage of deals they close. Paying thousands before any deal exists is how many scams work.
• Guarantees. No one can guarantee a scholarship, a ranking, a draft slot or an NIL number.
• Gifts before signing. Cash, shoes, travel or payments to family from an agent are illegal for college athletes under SPARTA and a warning sign at any age.
• Pressure to sign fast. A good representative will wait for a family to read the contract and ask questions.
• Long or exclusive terms with no exit. Multi-year exclusivity signed at 15 can follow a player into college and beyond.

What should families ask before signing?

• What certification or license do you hold, and can I verify it with the issuing body?
• Are you registered as an athlete agent in our state?
• What is your fee, as a percentage, and what does it cover? Is anything owed if no deal closes?
• How long does the agreement last, and how do we end it?
• Who else do you represent, and can I talk to two of those families?
• How will this affect NCAA eligibility and state high school rules?

Get every answer in writing, and have a lawyer or trusted advisor read any contract before a minor or a parent signs it.

When does a young player actually need representation?

Most high school players do not need an agent. A family with a strong local NIL deal may want a reviewer, not a manager. Representation starts to matter when real money or a real decision is on the table: a significant NIL deal, comparing college offers, testing the NBA draft, or a first contract in the WNBA or overseas. At that point, hire a credentialed professional who is paid when the player is paid, and read every line of the agreement before signing.