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KPBS Midday Edition

As College Basketball's Best Head To One Court, Battle Over Paying College Athletes Is In Another

Syracuse forward Kadary Richmond (3) shoots between a trio of San Diego State defenders during the first half of a college basketball game in the first round of the NCAA tournament at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, March 19, 2021
AP Photo / AJ Mast
Syracuse forward Kadary Richmond (3) shoots between a trio of San Diego State defenders during the first half of a college basketball game in the first round of the NCAA tournament at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, March 19, 2021
Last Wednesday the Supreme Court heard arguments over whether or not the NCAA’S limits for student athletes violates antitrust laws. The SCOTUS is expected to rule on the case in June.

Gonzaga and Baylor will battle for the NCAA Championship on the basketball court Monday night. Meanwhile, there is also a battle happening in the U.S. Supreme Court over compensation for student athletes and whether or not the NCAA is violating antitrust laws by limiting how much compensation they can receive. The issue has been highlighted by the pandemic, while in-person classes on many campuses ceased many collegiate athletes continued playing in-person games.

RELATED: Fair Pay To Play Act Puts Full Court Press On NCAA

The Supreme Court case is all part of a larger effort to change a billion dollar sports industry that pays players nothing outside of scholarships.

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California galvanized the effort with the Fair Pay to Play Act which was signed into law in 2019 which allows college athletes in California to acquire endorsement deals and the use of their likeness while still maintaining eligibility to play collegiate sports. San Diego Attorney Len Simon, who is also an Adjunct Law Professor at USD specializing in sports and the law, helped craft the legislation.

RELATED: Supreme Court Weighs Whether NCAA Is Illegally 'Fixing' Athlete Compensation

"They've got tuition, room, board, books and maybe a fancy athletic program but eating or taking a friend to the movies may be beyond their means," said Simon who joined Midday Edition to discuss the Supreme Court case and California's law.