Basketsball Results and Eldorado High School senior Bella Hines Signs to LSU

In local Boys Basketball Alamogordo High School defeated Silver 57-51. Jaedyn Hernandez led the Tigers with 22 points, Marcus Bryant Jr. and Ethan Grinder each scored 9.The Tiger Boys are 1-0 and next play at the Artesia Tournament December 5th-7th.

Legacy Academy Boys defeated Mescalero Apache Boys Basketball 58-31.  Landyn Hiles led the Chiefs with 11 points, Niles Caje had 6 and Thomas Douglas with 5.
The Chiefs are 0-1, next play Menaul on Saturday.

In Girls Basketball Mescalero Apache defeated Legacy Academy 38-34. Laurdis Sundayman led the Lady Chiefs with 8 points, Railey Blake and Cielo Herrera each had 6 points, Molly Pena, Jade Artiaga and Skyla Enjady each with 4. The Lady Chiefs are 1-0 and will play Menaul on Saturday

Eldorado High School senior Bella Hines signed on with LSU as one of the nations top recruits. 

Once a Golden Eagle, Bella Hines is now an LSU Tiger. LSU has one of the most prestigious programs in the nation. 

Hines was highly recruited and had her pick of where to continue her career. However, she said she knew she wanted to “Geaux” join the family in Baton Rouge.

“I would definitely say the culture and how family-oriented of a program they are. Just being able to know that I’m leaving home and still feel like it’s a family out there, meant a lot to me. So I’m glad I’m going somewhere where I feel at home,” she said.

Hines ranks 30th among the 2025 women’s basketball player recruiting class. Her coach said it’s her drive on the court that got her there.

Hines is also the only active high school basketball player from New Mexico male or female to have a Name, Image and Likeness deal. Hines’ NIL deal is with Nike’s Jordan brand.

NIL" stands for "name, image and likeness." It refers to a person's legal right to control how their image is used, including commercially. In college, student-athletes have long been prohibited from making deals to profit from their fame, so they forfeited their NIL rights by signing on with college sports teams. Three years ago, a combination of NCAA rule changes and state laws restored NIL rights to student athletes, and they've been making sponsorship deals ever since.

A combination of school policies and state laws dictate what deals athletes can make. In states with no oversight, the NCAA has universities write policies for their own athletes. Some common school requirements are that athletes get business advice or training before making deals, or preventing them from promoting certain products. State laws are primarily focused on preventing NIL deals from being used as recruitment tools. Schools can't pay students directly, but some states have murky laws surrounding just how involved a school's booster club can get.

Under the rules now in place an  athlete is allowed to hire professionals to help with marketing, legal issues, tax laws and other business dealings. Many schools also offer training and resources to athletes directly, often in the form of early-season classes on NIL law and basic business practices.

Most colleges have policies that require athletes to report the details of any potential deals with their schools, and some must get school approval before signing. Several schools reserve the right to keep their athletes from advertising certain products, like drugs and alcohol.

“Once they made NIL legal in New Mexico, I knew I had a chance to get somewhere. And once they made it legal, I was in my taking-off stage so it’s honestly crazy just to know that I’m the only active athlete signed with Jordan. It’s a blessing honestly,” she said to KOB concerning her signing and her Jordan deal. “It was like a surreal moment. I didn’t even think it was real. Jordan is an amazing brand and he [Michael Jordan]’s like an icon of basketball. So, being able to be signed with him, it’s a blessing and something that I never thought would happen.”

Hines’ deal includes a monthly merch allotment, Jordan products and cash bonuses. She also has an NIL deal with jewelry company GLD – known for working with professional athletes and major league sports.

The Albuquerque native said she’s soaking in every moment before spreading her claws at LSU.

“It’s a great moment in time. Not a lot of people get to sign this letter, so just knowing that I’m one of those few means a lot,” Hines told KOB sports news. 

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