Is it ever reasonable to criticize high school athletes?

At what point is it reasonable to criticize high school athletes?

Does such a point even exist?

Ask 10 years ago, and the answers would be obvious. No, the point did not exist under 99% of circumstances.

There’s no reason to call out a teenager by harping on their mistakes. At the Daily Herald, we’ve had a long-standing policy of accentuating the positive and eliminating the negative.

But so much has changed the last few years, specifically the finances for the lucky ones who are now free to make money based on their athletic talents through name, image and likeness rules and other funding sources.

It’s a brave new world where the pursuit of a scholarship has been replaced by the pursuit of the biggest paycheck from colleges.

The changing landscape opened a window to criticism that didn’t exist before. With straight cash involved, expectations have grown — for right or wrong.

Because of the money, has it become fair game to delve into the negative of a paid high school athlete’s performance?

Just look at Arch Manning. Granted, he’s a 21-year-old who’s been at the University of Texas for a few years. It’s far different for a 17-year-old high school kid. Still, the amount of criticism he’s received this season has been fascinating to watch.

Through NIL money, Manning made millions well before he became the Longhorns’ starting quarterback heading into this season. In the months leading up to the opener against Ohio State, he was viewed as a sure-fire No. 1 overall draft pick.

Things changed, however, after the loss to the Buckeyes and unimpressive performances by Manning in the following weeks. Criticism rained down from all corners, criticism that may not be there if not for the millions of dollars flowing into his pockets.

Again, it’s a college example. But at what point does the critical eye start peering down at the high school level?

The number of prep athletes in the area receiving endorsement money is unknown, just as the specifics of most NIL deals are left to speculation. But the money is definitely out there at the upper echelon of high school athletics.

It begs double-edged questions. Will those athletes be judged differently now that they’re being paid? And should they be judged differently?

In many ways, they’re already treated differently. These are the athletes you see featured on ESPN and on livestreams announcing their college commitments. The ones asked for autographs after games.

It’s only happened to me a few times in the last 30 years, but some of the top athletes even limit interviews with local media due to the high volume of requests. Manning did that during his time in high school.

That special treatment alone may be enough to expose prep athletes to an increased level of criticism. Now pile on the money they’re receiving … does that change the equation?

The answer will evolve over time, and the pervasiveness of social media won’t help. And because none of us know the amounts or who exactly is receiving the money, the answer will remain a moving target.

But if numbers do start circulating, accurate or not, don’t be surprised to see that critical eye peering down.