Inside the Black Market for High School Football Players
Podcast: The Journal.Published On: Fri Jan 16 2026
Description: From a young age, it was clear that Phillip Bell was a football phenom. He got his first college scholarship offer in middle school. But that talent drew Bell into Southern California’s unruly youth football black market. In that system, high schoolers and their families are paid millions to play football. WSJ's Harriet Ryan reports on a system that ultimately tore Phillip Bell's family apart. Ryan Knutson hosts. Further Listening: - NCAA President on a New Era for College Sports - Private Equity Finally Can Get a Piece of the NFL Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The note was deleted
The note was saved
Your message was sent