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Headline MLB Rules Recruiting

Agents and Advisors: An Athlete’s Perspective

The following guest article was written by Tyler Nepote, sophomore at Wichita State, who may be reached at tnepote@gmail.com.

“Some things are done to attempt to teach athletes about the agent selection process, however it is not near where it should be,” said a highly recruited draft prospect. We are always talking and learning about the best practices for securing athletes. Every agent is looking for the next Bryce Harper, and interns are fighting for positions so they can learn the tricks of the trade. Yet, how many people take the time to ask current NCAA athletes what their thoughts are on the process and the current situation? That’s just what I did, and here are the results.

After speaking with current college athletes with high draft stock in this year’s MLB Draft as well as current NFL Draft prospects, surprisingly all of their opinions were unanimous. Each shared a story in their relatively new experiences in the agent recruitment process. Here are a few of their stories:

  • An MLB Draft prospect was contacted on Facebook by an “agent” out of California. The agent claimed he could get the player drafted higher than any other agent. After simply Googling the “agent”, the prospect came to realize he represented basketball players playing in Mexico and Europe.
  • Every prospect I spoke with agreed that it was highly unprofessional and even weird to have a prospective agent contact them on a social media site. They all prefer personal calls, emails, or contacting their parents/coaches first.
  • What was the most important factor in the agent selection process? Not gifts, charm, or flatter – it was honesty and reputation.

An alarming realization took place while interviewing these prospects – most of them had very simple questions about the agent selection process, that even as a college sophomore, without having ever stepped foot in an agency, I knew the answers to. Some were hesitant to talk to me about the selection process because they weren’t sure if it would hurt their eligibility. In this study, there was a clear conclusion that the average draft prospect is not being educated in the selection process.

I want to personally thank all of the athletes that took the time out of their schedules and seasons to discuss this with me. Each of them were very insightful and had great opinions. The following contributed:

  • Devin Hedgepeth, DB/CB Oklahoma State University, SO. – Led Big XII in interceptions prior to injury, More Information on Devin
  • Adam Giacalone, 1B/P Neosho County Community College, SO. – NJCAA All American, Tennessee signee, More Information on Adam

 

By Darren Heitner

Darren Adam Heitner, Esq., is a preeminent sports attorney and the founder of Heitner Legal, P.L.L.C., a Fort Lauderdale-based law firm specializing in sports law, contract negotiations, intellectual property, and arbitration. He earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Florida Levin College of Law in 2010 and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, magna cum laude, from the University of Florida in 2007, where he was named Valedictorian of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Admitted to practice in the state bars of Florida, New York, and the District of Columbia, as well as multiple federal courts, Darren also serves as a certified arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association.

As an adjunct professor, Darren imparts his expertise through teaching Sports Law at the University of Florida Levin College of Law and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) at the University of Miami School of Law in the Entertainment, Arts, and Sports Law LL.M. program. His scholarly contributions include authoring several books published by the American Bar Association, such as How to Play the Game: What Every Sports Attorney Needs to Know, and numerous articles in prominent publications like Forbes, Inc. Magazine, and Above the Law. His thought leadership in NIL has earned him recognition as one of the foremost experts by The Wall Street Journal, USA TODAY, and On3, and he has been lauded as a “power player in NIL deals” by Action Network and a “top sports trademark attorney” by Sportico.

Darren’s passion for sports law led him to establish Sports Agent Blog on December 31, 2005, initially titled “I Want To Be A Sports Agent.” The platform, created as a New Year’s resolution, has grown into a cornerstone of the sports agency community, offering in-depth analysis of industry trends, legal disputes, and agent-player dynamics. His commitment to the field is further evidenced by his representation of numerous athletes and sports agents, as well as his prior role as an Adjunct Professor at Indiana University Bloomington, where he developed and taught a course on Sport Agency Management from 2011 to 2014.

Darren’s contributions have been recognized with prestigious honors, including the University of Florida’s 40 Under 40 Award, the University of Florida Levin College of Law’s Outstanding Young Alumnus Award, and designation as the best lawyer in Fort Lauderdale by Fort Lauderdale Magazine. He remains an active voice in the sports law community, sharing insights through his weekly NIL newsletter and his X posts, engaging a broad audience on legal developments in sports.