Rutgers basketball star Geo Baker testified before the N.J. Senate’s Higher Education Committee on Tuesday morning, telling lawmakers that the state’s college athletes would face “continued exploitation” from the NCAA if they didn’t approve an amended law to grant them their name, likeness and image rights on July 1.
Baker was speaking in support of a bill that was introduced this month to change the date of the New Jersey Fair Play Act, a law that prohibits universities from restricting athletes’ ability to earn income from their so-called NIL rights. The law is currently set to go into effect in 2025, well after other states with similar legislation.
“Twenty states have now adopted NIL laws and six are effective on July 1,” Baker testified. “New Jersey shouldn’t leave its athletes rights in the hands of the NCAA, which has done nothing but exploit athletes economically over and over again. Without action, New Jersey athletes would be subject to continued exploitation and New Jersey colleges would be at a severe recruiting disadvantage for years.”
The bill unanimously passed the committee, the first step before it can be introduced for a vote in the Senate and the N.J. Assembly. If it passes both houses, it would go to the desk of Gov. Phil Murphy, who has been a strong advocate for the rights of college athletes.
If that happens, New Jersey would be among the leaders on an issue that is expected to change the landscape of college athletics in the coming months and years. NCAA officials and prominent coaches were on Capitol Hill for a hearing last week, pushing Congress to pass uniform legislation on NIL rights before several state laws go into effect next month.
That seems unlikely to happen, which means athletes in states with more permissive laws could receive benefits that their counterparts elsewhere do not -- a wrinkle that could create a competitive imbalance in recruiting for sports like college football and basketball.
“My name, image and likeness is owned by another entity,” Baker testified. “I view this as a clear violation of basic human rights, and I believe all of you do as well -- which is why you adopted the bill that you did. However, I believe that human rights should never be delayed. This bill is something that would grant student athletes something that every other student in college already has. This needs to be put into place now, not later.”
After his testimony, Baker told NJ Advance Media that his appearance before the committee came together “at the last minute.” The Rutgers guard, who was outspoken about bringing change to college sports during the team’s run to the NCAA Tournament last season, said he was encouraged by the response from the state’s lawmakers and hopeful that the bill would pass.
Baker is no stranger to speaking out on this issue. He launched the #NotNCAAProperty movement before the Scarlet Knights’ first March Madness game -- one that players from Rutgers and Clemson discussed delaying to raise awareness on the issue. In April, he was among a group of prominent college basketball players who met with NCAA president Mark Emmert and appeared at media session alongside Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) in Washington.
“I think it’s super important that I show my face and continue to be an activist for college athletes in New Jersey,” Baker said.
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Steve Politi may be reached at spoliti@njadvancemedia.com.
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