Video Game Advisory COMMITTEE

Enthusiast Sports & Entertainment and Athletes.org Launch Video Game Advisory Committee to Elevate College Athlete Voices

Committee creates structured forum for athletes to learn, engage, and influence decisions shaping college sports video games

MARCH 9, 2026 - Enthusiast Sports & Entertainment (ES&E) and Athletes.org (AO) today announced the launch of the Video Game Advisory Committee (VGAC), a new initiative designed to inform, engage and amplify college athlete voices in discussions around their representation in video games.

The VGAC brings together current and former college athletes, coaches, and industry experts to create an ongoing forum where athletes can better understand the business, legal and creative aspects of sports video gaming - and directly contribute their perspectives to publishers and developers. The committee is focused on ensuring athletes are educated, heard and meaningfully involved from the earliest stages of development.

This first iteration of the VGAC focuses on men’s and women’s college basketball, with plans to expand and support additional collegiate sports and athletes.

The committee has already begun conversations with video game publishers on key issues impacting athletes, including the use of athlete likenesses, group and active use licensing, gender equity, gameplay authenticity and motion capture. 2K has already shared information with the Committee and solicited valuable feedback, sparking important discussions. Facilitated by ES&E and AO, these ongoing collaborations ensure that athletes play a central role in shaping future outcomes.

Committee members include current and former athletes, coaches, and industry experts. The current committee members include:

Current Athletes
- Lauren Betts (UCLA)
- Jaloni Cambridge (Ohio State)
- Grace VanSlooten (Michigan State)
- Braden Smith (Purdue)
- Seth Trimble (North Carolina)
- Ramon Walker (Houston)

Former Athletes and Coaches
- Kelly Rae Finley (Women’s Coach Florida)
- Pat Kelsey (Men’s Coach Louisville)
- Armando Bacot (former UNC player)
- Sedona Prince (former TCU player)

Industry Experts
- Jay Bilas (ESPN)
- Brandon Copeland (AO)
- Wesley Haynes (ES&E)

The athletes on the committee strongly believe in the purpose and activities of the committee:

“For a long time, decisions about college athletes in video games were made without our understanding or a chance to weigh in. This committee gives athletes the information we need and a real voice in the process, so decisions are being influenced by us, and eventually negotiated with us.”
— Seth Trimble, Senior Guard, University of North Carolina

“Seeing a future path for college players into video gaming is exciting, but it also represents who we are and the work we put in every day. Having a seat at the table helps make sure athletes are represented accurately, treated fairly, and included in conversations that affect our name, image, and likeness.”
— Grace VanSlooten, Senior Forward, Michigan State University

The college NIL space is changing rapidly and in unprecedented ways. Recent iterations of college sports video games released in the last few years have underscored challenges that arise when athletes are not involved in decision-making and have no real voice. Athletes and advocates have raised concerns about compensation models, representation, rights models and fair market value - highlighting the need for better education and increased athlete participation in the process.

This committee aims to inform athletes and their advocates, and give them a forum and a voice to help shape the future of college sports video gaming.

“First of all, being a member of this Video Game Advisory Committee is beyond cool. I’m grateful for the opportunity. The best part to me, however, is how the players are informed and meaningfully involved. When this happens, outcomes improve for everyone — the players, the games, and the industry as a whole. This committee is an important step toward transparency and accountability, ensuring college athletes aren’t an afterthought but a central part of decisions that shape their future; that’s how it should be.”
— Pat Kelsey, Louisville Men’s Coach

“College athletes are no longer passive participants in an ecosystem that profits from their labor and identity. Initiatives like this matter because they create informed participation. When athletes understand the business and are part of the conversation, the system works better and more fairly.”
— Jay Bilas, ESPN Announcer, former player at Duke

For inquiries, please address questions to Sarah Sessoms at sarah@athletes.org and Wesley Haynes at wesley@enthusiastse.com.

About Enthusiast Sports & Entertainment

Enthusiast Sports & Entertainment (ES&E) connects brands, athletes, and rights-holders through large-scale NIL programs and group licensing initiatives. With leadership experience across the NFLPA, NBPA, and MLBPA, ES&E brings decades of expertise in athlete partnerships and entertainment innovation.

About Athletes.org

Athletes.org, “The Players Association for College Athletes,” is a voluntary membership organization whose membership includes more than 5,200 current and former college athletes. AO exists to educate, organize, and represent college athletes as their chosen players association to ensure their seat at the table in the everchanging landscape of college sports.