HATTIESBURG, Miss. ( WHLT ) – The City of Hattiesburg entered into Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) agreements with two athletes from local universities: Melyia Grayson of the University of Southern Mississippi and Lauren Jones of William Carey University. Both athletes, who are graduates of Hattiesburg high schools, will serve as the city’s first NIL ambassadors.

“In today’s changing college athletics landscape, it’s crucial for communities to embrace and support local athletes through NIL opportunities,” said Hattiesburg Mayor Toby Barker. “These partnerships allow us to highlight the achievements of our two universities and showcase athletes who came from our local schools. Melyia Grayson and Lauren Jones represent the best of Hattiesburg—they excel in their sports and remain connected to their hometown. We are proud to have them as our first NIL student ambassadors.”

Grayson, a 2020 graduate of Hattiesburg High School, led the Lady Tigers to a state basketball championship in 2018. At Southern Miss, she was named to the Sun Belt All-Conference Third Team for the 2023-2024 season. Grayson currently ranks 19th in all-time scoring at Southern Miss with 1,195 career points.

Jones is a 2021 graduate of Sacred Heart Catholic School where she helped win four state championships in soccer. She played a key role in leading the William Carey University women’s soccer team to back-to-back Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC) titles in 2021 and 2022. Jones was honored as an NAIA All-American Scholar Athlete in 2022 for her academic excellence.

As part of the NIL agreements, Grayson and Jones will collaborate with the city on initiatives aimed at promoting Hattiesburg’s educational and athletic offerings, strengthening the ties between local institutions and the community.

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