The University of South Carolina will host sports agent Jade-Li English of CAA Basketball for the 2026 Baldwin Lecture in Columbia on Nov. 10. The event, held from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Joseph F. Rice School of Law Auditorium, will examine how athletes become brands, businesses and cultural voices.
What the lecture will cover
According to the announcement, the discussion will focus on athlete representation, branding, business partnerships and the expanding influence of sports beyond the playing surface. Those themes place the conversation at the intersection of talent management, sponsorship and public identity, areas where agents often shape how a player's image reaches fans and commercial partners.
The panelists
English will take part in the conversation alongside Bianca Crawford Shelton and Charece Williams, co-founders of Next Level Partners, and USC's Rushondra James. Their combined perspectives span agency work, business development and university-based discussion, offering attendees a view of both the commercial and institutional sides of athlete representation.
Why the topic matters
Athletes increasingly operate as media companies in their own right, managing social platforms, endorsement deals and business ventures. The lecture's framing suggests that questions about who negotiates these arrangements, and on what terms, will be central. Students, sports professionals and local residents interested in the industry may find the session useful, though the announcement does not detail specific case studies or outcomes the panel will address.