Can an athletics department hire a prospective student-athlete who has graduated from high school for a summer position?

The context around hiring prospective student-athletes who have graduated from high school for summer positions is governed by the NCAA's rules regarding employment. If a prospective student-athlete has officially graduated from high school, they are no longer considered a high school recruit and can be employed by an athletics department. This is an important distinction because, while NCAA regulations are strict about recruiting high school students or current college athletes in various capacities, graduating from high school changes a student-athlete's status.

Throughout the summer between high school graduation and their enrollment in college, these individuals can be hired without violating NCAA rules, given that the employment does not create an undue advantage or violate any specific employment guidelines set forth by the NCAA. This allows prospective student-athletes to gain experience while also earning some income, facilitating a smooth transition into their collegiate athletic careers.

In contrast, there are restrictions on hiring current high school students or those who have not yet graduated, which is reflective of the NCAA’s efforts to maintain the integrity of the recruiting process.