Highlights: UK basketball signee Dillingham shows off passing ability at Overtime Elite
As the 2022-23 Kentucky men’s basketball season continues to sputter, UK fans are increasingly looking toward the future.
To this point, guard Robert Dillingham promises to add a talented passer and on-ball presence for the Wildcats next season.
Dillingham — who is ranked as the No. 2 point guard and the No. 9 player overall in the 2023 recruiting class by the 247Sports Composite — has had a high-profile last couple of months.
In November, Dillingham joined Overtime Elite (OTE), a professional basketball league based in Atlanta.
OTE offers a prep school-type environment for high school players. Some OTE players have salaried contracts, while other sign special deals that allow them to make money through name, image and likeness opportunities while keeping their NCAA eligibility intact.
Dillingham falls into the latter group, and has retained his college eligibility since committing to the Wildcats in June.
Dillingham formerly attended Donda Academy, a school in California founded by Ye (the music artist formerly known as Kanye West).
The five-star point guard has settled into his new home at OTE with the Cold Hearts team, with per-game averages of 14.7 points, 4.9 assists and 2.5 steals through 14 games in the 2022-23 OTE season.
The Herald-Leader was in attendance for Dillingham’s most recent game Friday night at the OTE Arena in Atlanta’s Atlantic Station neighborhood.
Below is more than a minute of highlights from the game: Dillingham scored 12 points on 5-for-20 shooting from the field and recorded six assists and three steals.
Dillingham is part of UK’s top-ranked 2023 recruiting class
Kentucky men’s basketball will welcome five players as part of its 2023 recruiting class, which is the top-ranked class in the nation.
The Camden (N.J.) High School duo of Aaron Bradshaw and DJ Wagner played a game in Frankfort this month.
In December, the other two members of Kentucky’s 2023 recruiting class — Justin Edwards and Reed Sheppard — faced off in a showcase matchup at Freedom Hall in Louisville.
Sheppard has also played in Lexington already this season with his North Laurel High School team.
Dillingham, Sheppard and Wagner have all also had their moment in the spotlight at Rupp Arena this season: All three players have been introduced to the UK crowd during a game.
