Kayli Kellogg, a high school basketball standout in West Virginia, has become the first athlete in the state to sign a Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deal although still in high school. The agreement, announced Friday, is with Vision Homes Inc., a residential new-home building company serving north central West Virginia. Kellogg, the daughter of West Virginia University women’s basketball head coach Mark Kellogg, shared the news on her X account, expressing her excitement about the partnership. “Honored to partner with Vision Homes WV,” she posted. The deal was enabled by a policy change approved by the West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission (WVSSAC) in July 2025, making West Virginia the 44th state to permit high school athletes to profit from their NIL. The policy officially went into effect in August 2025. According to WVSSAC executive director Wayne Ryan, the regulations are designed to ensure that such partnerships remain separate from the athlete’s school and athletic activities. “They have to keep it independent of their school and athletic life,” Ryan said in a previous interview. The policy specifically prohibits athletes from using school logos, mascots, or uniforms in their promotional activities. Kellogg has been a prominent figure in West Virginia girls’ basketball, earning First-Team All-State honors as both a freshman and sophomore. She has led her team to appearances in the Class AAAA state title game for the past two seasons, despite missing her junior season due to a knee injury. Rocky Simmons, co-founder and Vice President of Vision Homes Inc., stated the company was pleased to partner with Kellogg. The WVSSAC policy also stipulates that NIL opportunities cannot be used as a recruiting tool by coaches or other school personnel. This new landscape for high school athletes in West Virginia follows a similar development in other states; for example, Rodney Gallagher III became the first Pennsylvania athlete to secure an NIL deal while in high school.
