Before the podium, before the jersey, before the social media welcome video—many athletes today are making a very different kind of announcement. It’s not about where they’re headed in the draft, but who they’re signing with in the collectibles world.
Panini and Fanatics have turned exclusive autograph contracts into an early scouting war. And in 2024 and 2025, that war has escalated—sometimes as early as high school.
Take Vernell Brown III, a four-star Florida commit who signed an exclusive NIL deal with Panini while still in high school. He’s part of a growing trend of athletes getting locked in long before their pro debuts.