UK basketball commit Robert Dillingham signs with Overtime Elite, keeps college eligibility
Five-star Kentucky basketball commit Robert Dillingham, the No. 2-ranked point guard in the Class of 2023, has signed a contract with a professional basketball league but plans to play for John Calipari and the Wildcats next year.
Dillingham, the No. 9 overall talent in the 2023 class according to the 247Sports Composite rankings, previously played for Donda Academy, a school founded by hip-hop star Kanye West. But the academy shut down for the remainder of the school year after recent controversy surrounding antisemitic comments made by the rapper. That move led Dillingham on a search for his next opportunity.
“I couldn’t be more excited to join OTE,” Dillingham said in a release. “The team and resources they offer are amazing and this is an incredible opportunity to continue to develop my game and take it to the next level, while competing against elite talent.”
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OTE allows players to either sign salaried contracts or make money through name, image and likeness deals that help them preserve their college eligibility. Dillingham is doing the latter to ensure he'll be able to play for the Wildcats next season.
Dillingham's OTE squad will be announced Saturday.
“We are excited to recruit Rob Dillingham to our league,” said Tim Fuller, OTE's vice president of recruiting and player personnel. “He brings an elite knack for scoring and an infectious passion for the game. His shiftiness and incredible speed with the ball make him slithery agile with the ball in his hands.”
OTE's second season will get underway Friday, with games streaming live on Amazon Prime Video.
Dillingham is one of four current commits in the 2023 cycle for Kentucky, along with forward Justin Edwards (No. 2 nationally in 247Sports Composite) center Aaron Bradshaw (No. 6) and Reed Sheppard (No. 29). The Wildcats also are considered the favorite to land the country's top-ranked prospect: DJ Wagner, the son of Dajuan Wagner (who played for Calipari at Memphis) and grandson of Louisville great Milt Wagner.
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Prospects can begin signing with colleges during the early signing period, which Nov. 9 and runs through Nov. 16.
Reach Kentucky men’s basketball and football reporter Ryan Black at rblack@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter at @RyanABlack.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky basketball: Robert Dillingham drops Donda for Overtime Elite