Study and Play USA

If you’ve been researching the US college scholarship pathway lately, you’ve almost certainly come across the term NIL. It’s one of the most talked-about developments in college sport in decades – and for good reason. In just five years, it has transformed the financial landscape for student-athletes in America, turning what was once a strictly amateur environment into a multi-billion dollar marketplace.

But what does NIL actually mean? How does it work? And critically, what does it mean for you as an Australian athlete heading to the US?

Here’s everything you need to know in 2026.

https://studyandplayusa.com.au/nil-in-2026-everything-you-need-to-know-before-choosing-a-us-college/

Signed!

Congratulations to 6’8 Perth volleyballer Joshua Damianopulous (left) on his successful transfer to Jessup University in California! Josh began his US university sporting career at Irvine Valley College, a California Community College located in Irvine Valley, CA. After completing his two years, Josh is now entering the world of NCAA men’s volleyball.

We are excited for you Josh and can’t wait to follow your journey ahead 👏🇺🇸

Welcome to Study & Play USA, Jessica Fog! ⛳🇺🇸

Jessica is a 2028 Golf Recruit from New South Wales who continues to establish herself as one of the exciting young golfers coming through the Australian pathway system.

Playing off an impressive 1 handicap and currently a member of the Western Sydney Academy of Sport squad, Jessica’s steady progression, competitive mindset and commitment to improving her game continue to position her strongly for future opportunities within the US college pathway.
We are excited to support Jessica and her family throughout this journey and can’t wait to see what the future holds as she continues progressing toward her goals.

Welcome to the SPUSA family, Jess ❤️💙

It's been a pleasure watching you excel on and off the court Jay!

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Where Are they Now?

Super proud of Queenslander Eamon Gerrard- Stace, who was recruited during arguably the most difficult of times - but he took his opportunity at The College of Saint Scholastica with both hands, leaving an impact on his tennis team and coming away with memories for a lifetime in Duluth, Minnesota. Now armed with a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Physiology, Eamon is now returning home to Australia to complete a Masters Degree of Physiotherapy.

“These past 4 years have been some of the most memorable years of my life! The highs and the lows you experience when you move half way across the world to a completely different environment with no familiar faces gives you unbelievable confidence for the rest of your life! I’d like to thank Batesy and the crew at SPUSA for helping find The College of St Scholastica! I have a multitude of connections in the US now and friends I need to visit across every continent in the world!”

Hats off to you Eamon!

Welcome to the SPUSA family, Diahna Srikanth!

Diahna is currently in Year 11 and completing her studies through online schooling. An improving tennis player with a strong competitive drive, she recently represented the state of Victoria at this year’s prestigious Pizzey Cup. She trains at Vida Tennis Academy in Melbourne, where she continues to develop both her game and her competitive mindset.

Diahna is excited to find the right US college fit that offers a strong balance of academics and athletics, and she is looking forward to the opportunity to compete in a college tennis environment!

Signed!

Huge congratulations to Henry Wright from Pacific Golf Club on signing with West Virginia Wesleyan University to continue his academic and golfing career in the USA!

A fantastic achievement and a result of all the hard work put in along the way. We’re excited to see what’s ahead at the NCAA Division II level.

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Shout out to all of our NJCAA Champions and All American honours across tennis and track!

These athletes taking the Junior College route have given themselves a huge boost for their recruitment to a strong 4 year program! Congratulations to:

Filip Sormaz - NJCAA Tennis National Champions No. 2 Doubles (Eastern Florida State College)
Bailey Burns - NJCAA Outdoor Nationals - National Champion Long Jump & All-American (Cloud County)
Tahlia Lienert - NJCAA Outdoor Nationals - National Runner-Up & All American - Heptathlon (Cloud County)
Angus Alberts - NJCAA Indoor Nationals Shot Put 6th & All American (Iowa Central)
Conor Matthews - NJCAA Outdoor Nationals Triple Jump 5th & All- American (Cloud County)

lienert .matthews

If you’ve been researching the US college scholarship pathway lately, you’ve almost certainly come across the term NIL. It’s one of the most talked-about developments in college sport in decades – and for good reason. In just five years, it has transformed the financial landscape for student-athletes in America, turning what was once a strictly amateur environment into a multi-billion dollar marketplace.

But what does NIL actually mean? How does it work? And critically, what does it mean for you as an Australian athlete heading to the US?

NIL in 2026: Everything You Need to Know Before Choosing a US College | Study & Play USA If you've been researching the US college scholarship pathway lately, you've almost certainly come across the term NIL. It's one of the most talked-about developments in college sport in decades - and for good reason. In just five years, it has transformed the financial landscape for student-athlete...

Great week over in Perth for the 2026 Pizzey Cup!

The Pizzey Cup is a National School Tennis Championship where some of the best U18 players compete for their State or Territory, going head-to-head against the best talent from around Australia. Great matches, heaps of energy from the interstate teams, and an unreal atmosphere across the whole tournament. Every match brought intensity, passion, and plenty of exciting moments.

We loved watching the action, the emotions, and the competitive spirit throughout the championship. Huge credit to all the players, coaches, and supporters who brought the energy from start to finish. Massive congrats to WA for taking out the title, and a huge congrats to our Study & Play USA tennis player, 2027 recruit Alex Anderson for getting picked for the All Australia Team! School Sport Australia