Founders Cimone Casson and Dr. Philip Hickman unite education, sports, financial leadership, and former professional athletes to help young people build careers beyond the game.
Nationwide — While billions of dollars continue to flow through the sports industry, two Black entrepreneurs are asking a different question: Who is preparing student-athletes for the economy that exists beyond the scoreboard?
Draft Ready, a new leadership and career readiness ecosystem for student-athletes, is officially launching with Detroit Public Schools Community District, bringing together education, athletics, financial literacy, workforce development, entrepreneurship, and innovation to prepare young athletes for life beyond the game.
Co-Founders Cimone Casson and Dr. Philip Hickman are answering that question through Draft Ready, a first-of-its-kind leadership ecosystem designed to prepare high school and college student-athletes for long-term success through career readiness, financial literacy, entrepreneurship, workforce development, risk management, and innovation.
Rather than focusing solely on athletic performance, Draft Ready equips students with the relationships, knowledge, and opportunities needed to compete in the rapidly changing sports economy.
“Our mission isn’t simply to develop better athletes,” said Cimone Casson, Co-Founder and Chief Economic Opportunity Officer. “We’re building future executives, entrepreneurs, innovators, and community leaders. Every student-athlete deserves a plan that lasts longer than a season.”
Dr. Philip Hickman, Co-Founder and Chief Innovation Architect, added, “Talent opens doors, but preparation creates opportunity. We want every student-athlete to understand how to translate discipline on the field into leadership in life.”
Draft Ready has assembled an accomplished leadership cohort that brings expertise from education, professional sports, finance, policy, and community engagement:
• Jay Alexander, Executive Director of Athletics for Detroit Public Schools Community District, helping connect educational leadership with athlete development.
• Eugene Monroe, former NFL player, entrepreneur, and advocate for athlete empowerment and life after professional sports.
• Eric Foster, policy strategist and economic justice leader focused on expanding opportunity through systems-level innovation.
• Eric Grant, Managing Partner of Polaris Wealth Management, providing financial education and long-term wealth-building guidance.
• Toine Murphy, strategic partnerships and community engagement leader helping connect athletes with meaningful opportunities beyond competition.
Together, the leadership team is building an ecosystem that challenges the traditional model of athlete development by emphasizing economic mobility, career pathways, leadership, and innovation alongside athletic achievement.
The initiative comes as student-athletes face an increasingly complex landscape shaped by NIL opportunities, technology, workforce changes, and evolving expectations for life after sports. Draft Ready believes success should be measured not only by scholarships or professional contracts, but by whether young people are prepared to thrive throughout their lives.
The organization is simultaneously launching its Founding 100 Campaign, inviting 100 visionary individuals, businesses, and organizations to become the Founding Supporters of a national movement dedicated to transforming athlete development. Support from the Founding 100 will help expand programming, develop educational resources, strengthen community partnerships, and bring Draft Ready to additional communities across the country.
Supporters and community leaders interested in becoming one of the Founding 100 or learning more about the initiative can visit DraftReady.org and join the movement at www.draftready.org/#founding-100
About
Draft Ready is a leadership and career readiness ecosystem founded by Cimone Casson and Dr. Philip Hickman to prepare high school and college student-athletes for success beyond sports. Through education, workforce development, entrepreneurship, financial literacy, innovation, and strategic partnerships, Draft Ready is helping build the next generation of leaders for the New Sports Economy.