A career leader on and off the court, Que Tucker knows how to get young people where they want to go.

What You Need To Know

  • North Carolina High School Athletic Association Commissioner Que Tucker continues to navigate the world of name, image and likeness since an October 2024 N.C. court ruling for high school athletes

  •  She said about a dozen athletes have contacted her office so far

  •  Tucker said the biggest piece of advice she's giving out — hire an attorney 

So when the topic of name, image and likeness became a priority for the North Carolina High School Athletic Association’s commissioner after a recent court ruling, she knew her office had to get ahead.

She recently sat down with In Focus: North Carolina anchor Sarah Rudlang to compare and contrast high school dealings.

“Obviously, anytime the courts make a ruling, it doesn’t matter whether you like it or not, it is the way of the land,” Tucker said.

December 2015 marked her official start as commissioner, after five months as interim.

Since the October ruling, her office has been contacted by about 12 athletes regarding NIL deals, she said. One of the biggest pieces of advice she’s giving those athletes and their families — get an attorney.

For the most part, school athletic directors have done a good job at explaining things to student athletes and providing resources, but you also don’t want to give anyone any incorrect information, Tucker said.

“The language that’s in some of these deals is such that we’re not attorneys in this office. If you sign it and you’re under 18, does that make it null and void? We don’t know,” she said.

The main issue, she said, is potential student ineligibility next season should things go sideways. Or they may lose some NIL money.

She previously worked for the N.C. State women’s basketball program, where her responsibilities included assistant coaching and academic oversight. Before that, she was a coach in high school basketball and volleyball, winning coach of the year.

But that was decades ago, she says, and times have changed. 

“If you just think about from the time I was at N.C. State in '89-'91 to where we are today in the college and university landscape, it is as different as night and day,” Tucker said.“If you just think about from the time I was at N.C. State in '89-'91 to where we are today in the college and university landscape, it is as different as night and day,” Tucker said.

Some lawmakers have commented on the fact that her office has been dealing with athletes and NIL. Tucker has countered, explaining she’s only ever directed her office to give the athletes the most resources they have along with advising them to get an attorney, she said.

“We were trying to get ahead of this, give them information, use their name, image and likeness because it belongs to them. It belongs to you. It belongs to me. That’s ours.” Tucker said. “But if you want to participate in our scholastic program and you want to continue to be a scholastic athlete, there are some things you need to do or not do.”

Now she said her office works with the State Board of Education to make sure student athletes are following the rules.