I was not paid outside of an athletics scholarship in college.

I was however, illegally recruited to attend a certain high school when in 9th grade. The rot probably goes deep. High school, AAU (110% certain) and probably some camps as well.

It doesn't help that the NCAA rules can be hard to interpret, always applied unfairly (watch out East Carolina!) and change if not on yearly basis. For instance, one year I could work at a private deli for (I think) 20 hours per week. The next year I couldn't work at the deli, but could work in the Athletic department for 20 hours.

Who knows anymore?

Assume the worst, hope for the best and prioritize the APR and GPA over Ws and Ls so that the vast majority of these men and women graduate and go on to something greater in life than athletic competition.