The single score that defines
athlete NIL value.
A proprietary score built from performance, social influence, and real market data — standardized into one number you can actually use.
Scoring Model
Three pillars. One composite score.
Every NILmetrics Score is a weighted composite of three institutional-grade data pillars, each independently validated and transparently documented.
Performance Index
- Per-36-minute rates with position-specific weighting
- Efficiency metrics normalized by position group
- Conference strength adjustment (auto-computed)
- Recency-weighted to reward current form
Market & Social
- Platform context and competitive environment
- Performance trajectory and momentum
- Position scarcity and supply/demand dynamics
- Visibility and media exposure signals
Reliability
- Games played vs total team games — rewards availability and consistency
- Graduated curve that penalizes absences proportionally
Classification
Five tiers of NIL value.
Athletes are grouped into performance tiers based on their composite score. Each tier reflects a distinct market position and valuation range.
| Tier | Score Range | Avg. NIL Value |
|---|---|---|
| Elite | 90–100 | $1.8M+ |
| High | 75–89 | $620K |
| Rising | 60–74 | $180K |
| Mid | 40–59 | $45K |
| Base | 0–39 | $8K |
Methodology
Transparent. Validated. Published.
Our scoring methodology is fully documented and backtested. No black boxes.
Data Sources
ESPN public APIs for game-by-game box scores, Google News and Bing News RSS for media coverage, and AI-powered article validation. Performance data covers all D1 basketball — 723 teams, 10,660+ athletes.
Normalization
All metrics are normalized against conference, positional, and sport-specific baselines. A point guard’s stats are never compared raw against a center — everything is contextualized.
Update Cadence
Performance data syncs daily during season via automated pipelines. News articles are discovered daily for top athletes and weekly for all. Scores recompute after each data sync with full recency decay.
Validation
Scores are backtested against historical deal outcomes and peer-reviewed by our data science team. Methodology documentation is published for full transparency.
See the Score in action.
Request access to explore real athlete valuations, tier breakdowns, and trend data powered by the NILmetrics Score.