Teenagers making money to play high school basketball
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Bryson Warren, a high school student from Texas, is one of few who can guarantee a six-figure salary.
Warren is 17 years old and was one of the first members to register as a high school athlete. Overtime Elite, a New York-based company that recruits – and pays – some of the top-ranked high school and teenaged basketball players from around the world to play at its academy in Atlanta.
These athletes were at OvertimeAttend classes to earn a diploma. They play against one another and with other high school teams throughout the country. The base salary is $100,000 per student-athlete. On-court performance bonuses can push this figure to $1 million.
Bryson Warren is 17, a high-school professional athlete.
Source: Overtime Elite
Warren was born near Little Rock in Arkansas. He is ranked ESPN as the 14th-bestThe appeal of the U.S. High School Basketball player in his age bracket was evident. He was joined by 26 others Overtime’s student-athletes took advantage of the opportunity to win big as high school athletes while working toward a greater leap in the NBA.
Warren told CNBC Make It that not many teenagers, teens, and young adults can claim to have made more than $100K. We’re getting a great headstart on our lives by playing the games we love.
What’s Overtime Elite?
Founded in 2016Zack Weiner (Dan Porter) and Zack Weiner (a couple of former alumni from WMA), Overtime is a experiment in sports and entertainment.
It was founded in first competitive seasonLivestreaming games was done last year and highlights were posted for Overtime’s million followers on like Instagram, TikTokAnd YouTube. Overtime reports that Warren’s content can be seen online. more than 18 billion timesPer year.
Also, the cost of overtime is rising more than $100 millionInvestors including Jeff Bezos’ investment firm, the rapper Drake, a host of NBA stars – including Kevin Durant and Carmelo Anthony – and Silicon Valley venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz.
The league declined to share revenue information with CNBC Make It, but noted that the company also makes money from streaming content, merchandise sales and sponsors – including State Farm, Gatorade and trading card company Topps.
Aaron Ryan, who is also the CEO and Commissioner of the company, was previously a marketing executive for the NBA. Ryan said that the league invests some money in its players.
His statement states that the company covers the costs of lodging, food and transport, as well as any other expenses associated with participating in the program. He added, “But also, a performance bonus and equity in the company, which are commensurate to what every other Overtime employee receives.”
Ryan said that the league offers $100,000 towards college tuition to each player who decides not to play the game as a career. Because they are “professional athletes”, the scholarship will not be available to overtime players.
Overtime has also invested money in a basketball operations teamThe team, which is led by Brandon Williams (ex-Sacrament Kings assistant general manger), could be compared to most of the major colleges. Kevin Ollie (ex-NBA player) is the University of Connecticut coach. The team also includes Ryan Gomes (ex-NBA player) and David Leitao (ex-University of Virginia coach).
These names allow Overtime to attract the best teen talent around the globe: Overtime currently has 27 players and at least eight of them were five-star college recruits. The Athletic.
Warren was one example of such a recruit. Being signed with Overtime was not an easy decision. offersAthletic powerhouse programs such as Kansas, Maryland Auburn, Georgetown, Georgetown, and Oklahoma.
With a smile, he said “Almost any offer you can think about.”
One day in the life a high school pro athlete
Warren spends most his time at Overtime’s Atlanta facility measuring 100,000 sq. ft. It is an all-in-1 arena, training and dormitory facility as well as a boarding school.
An Overtime trainer picks him up at 6:30 am almost every day to allow him to exercise for 90 minutes before he heads to the court to play three hours of basketball with his teammates. Warren says that the players go to Overtime for lunch and stay there until 4:45 p.m.
Overtime’s academy is an accredited institution with certified teachers, which allows the student-athletes to earn high school diplomas — rather than GEDs — and begin taking college-level courses. Warren describes it as a high school curriculum that includes “math and English,” science or biology along with social studies. [and] history.”
Warren said that he particularly enjoys taking a class on “financial literacy”, which teaches student-athletes about the intricacies involved with signing professional contracts and questions they should ask their advisors and agents, as well as how to spend responsibly.
They’re showing us which people to include in our circle [of friends and family]Warren says that you should be open to all kinds of stuff.[Six-time NBA All-Star]Tony Parker came by and spoke to us [and]He said that it wasn’t about whom you say “Yes” to but who you are saying it to.
Warren says student-athletes usually return to class after classes or go back on the court to continue their training.
His NBA Dream Goal
Warren, who is currently in his third year at high school without Overtime would likely be receiving intensive recruitment pitches from top college basketball programs. Warren might feel that he hasn’t made the right decision by choosing Overtime to college. But, Warren is not lying.
He says he is focusing on the NBA for now. It seems he is a strong candidate to make it. My goal is to be drafted after the program finishes. [in the NBA]”That’s our goal,” he said. That’s everyone’s goal.”
Warren said that his dream is to make a difference in his community through his basketball achievements. He looks up to LeBron James, he says, for what James has done off the court — including opening a public elementary school in James’ hometown of Akron, Ohio, where students have a chance to earn free tuition to the University of Akron.
Warren states, “Everyone does not do that. Only he is willing to give back and start a school free of charge.”
Warren has already started investing part of his Overtime income in an Arkansas co-educational AAU basketball club, supporting children from the 2nd through 6th grades. Still, he says, he couldn’t resist at least one splashy purchase with his newfound income — and he’d always dreamed of owning a Dodge Charger.
It was a true story. He says, “I was only blessed that it happened.”
Warren said that he knows it can be extremely risky to take a different path in pursuit of a long-held dream. Overtime won’t give Warren the best chance to impress NBA scouts.
He says, “You can view Overtime as risk or as opportunity.” “I chose this opportunity, it was the right one for me, I am going to accept, and I feel at peace.
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