ESPN Just Signed a High School Sophomore to a Merch Deal — and He’s Already Flashing NBA-Level Savvy

Beckham Black is only a junior in high school, but he just did something no boys basketball prospect has ever done before: sign a merchandising deal directly with ESPN. The network’s SC NEXT platform inked the 6-foot-4 guard — the No. 2 overall recruit in the Class of 2027 — alongside top girls prospect Kaleena Smith, making both the first prep players ever to land such an agreement with ESPN.

ESPN insider Shams Charania broke the news Tuesday on X, calling it a historic first for the network’s high school basketball coverage. For Black, it’s the latest signal that his name is starting to carry weight far beyond the gyms of central Florida — where his older brother, Orlando Magic guard Anthony Black, already made the family famous.

“For the first time ever, @SCNEXT and ESPN are signing two high school basketball players to merchandising deals: the #1 girls player on the SC NEXT 100, Kaleena Smith, and the #2 boys player on the SC NEXT 100, Beckham Black,” Charania wrote. He added: “Black is the younger brother of Orlando Magic guard Anthony Black.”

The deal doesn’t just give Black a paycheck — it signals that ESPN sees him as a bankable face for its youth basketball brand at a stage when most prospects are still fighting for regional recognition. According to the network’s SC NEXT 100 rankings, Black trails only Marcus Spears Jr. in the 2027 class, and college programs have already taken notice. He holds scholarship offers from Arkansas, Auburn, Cincinnati, Georgetown, Kentucky, and USC, among others.

Numbers that back up the hype

Black’s junior season at the high school level was nothing short of dominant. According to MaxPreps, he averaged 16.4 points, 9.6 assists, 5.4 rebounds, and 1.5 steals per game across 48 contests, playing just under 24 minutes a night. That kind of all-around production — especially the playmaking numbers — has drawn inevitable comparisons to his older brother, who just finished a breakout third NBA season.

Anthony Black posted 15.0 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.4 steals per game for the Magic during the 2025-26 campaign, helping Orlando reach the playoffs. The younger Black appears to be following a similar trajectory: big guard with vision, defensive instincts, and a growing reputation that now comes with an ESPN contract attached.

While details of the merchandising deal haven’t been disclosed, the agreement marks a clear shift in how major sports networks are approaching high school talent. Instead of waiting until players hit college or the NBA, ESPN is investing in their earning potential before they turn 18 — a strategy that could reshape how future prospects build their brands.

For now, Beckham Black still has two more years of high school ball before he can even think about the NBA. But with a historic ESPN deal already in his back pocket, the spotlight is only going to get brighter.