High school athletes have always been prohibited from profiting from their name, image, and likeness, and many still are. However, a 17-year-old who has long shone on and off the court is among the first to change that.
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Age
Jada Williams is 17 years old. She was born on February 6, 2005, to her mother Jill McIntyre, who Jada describes as her biggest role model, her biggest supporter, and her number one fan.
Education
Jada attended Blue Springs High School in Blue Springs, Missouri, as a freshman and sophomore. She moved back to California and enrolled in La Jolla Country Day School in 2021, ahead of her junior year.
Career
Williams helped the USA women’s under-16 national team win the gold medal in the FIBA Americas U16 tournament in August. She was nominated to the tournament all-star team and topped all players in assists per game and three-point percentage while averaging 11.7 points. The Kansas City native has pledged to attend UCLA for college.
Even with the NIL idea, which entered into force in the NCAA on July 1, 2021, such transactions are novel. While collegiate players such as Alabama quarterback Bryce Young and UConn point guard Paige Bueckers have inked large endorsement agreements under the NIL guidelines, Williams is thought to be the first high school girls basketball star to sign with a national brand.
Only one other high school athlete with a comparable national NIL deal is Mikey Williams, the class of ’23 basketball sensation currently attending Vertical Academy in Charlotte.
What sticks out, apart from the social media attention, is her passion for basketball.
Williams also intends to follow in the footsteps of her WNBA mentors by utilizing her position to raise awareness of social justice problems and to assist others.
Williams is only getting started on her path, and she has a long way to go before she achieves all of the objectives she has set for herself. But she appears to be as poised as any teenage prodigy in her goal.
She keeps things simple when it comes to staying focused despite the strain.
Height
According to ESPNW’s HoopGurlz recruiting rankings, Jada Williams is a 5’6″ point guard.
Awards
- Honors: 2021 FIBA Americas U16 Championship All-Star Five.
- Gold Medal: 2021 FIBA Americas U16 Championship
Read Also: Profile of Bridgette Radebe
