It’s official. Robert Dillingham is enrolled at Kanye West’s Donda Prep, mother says
Lia Tailele, the mother of 5-star basketball recruit Robert Dillingham, told the Observer via text message Friday that her son has enrolled at Donda Prep Academy, the new California school created by billionaire rapper Kanye West.
Tailele briefly spoke with the Observer by phone, from Louisiana, where she said she and her son were on an official visit to LSU.
Dillingham, a 6-foot-1 point guard, was one of three N.C. players to leave for West’s new school. Also leaving the area were Omarion Bodrick, a former Independence High player and a close friend and teammate of Dillingham at Combine, and Winston-Salem Christian’s Brandon White, a 6-10 center.
“After visiting the school with my son and his older sister, we were all very impressed with everything that Donda Academy had to offer,” Tailele said via text. “We’re thankful for the opportunity that Combine provided my son over these past two years, but felt as if this would be a better situation going forward for his development and future.”
Donda Academy is a 5,728 square-foot school. It has a field, gym, classrooms, offices and a kitchen, according to a Yahoo listing. It was formerly Stoneridge Prep.
The school has already attracted some major talent. Dillingham, who averaged 21 points last season and was the N.C. player of the year as a sophomore, is ranked No. 10 nationally in the class of 2023 by 247 Sports.
Other top talent reportedly at Donda include 6-5 senior shooting guard Zion Cruz, ranked No. 26 nationally; Jalen Hooks, a 6-6 junior wing ranked No. 82 in the nation; and Jahki Howard, a 6-6 forward and major college prospect in the class of 2024.
There are already rumors of a high-profile game with another California basketball power, Sierra Canyon, which has featured LeBron James’ son, Bronny, and Dwyane Wade’s son, Zaire, in recent years.
“It’s just one of those things you can’t pass up,” the 6-foot-6 Hooks, a Class of 2023 small forward from Indianapolis, told the Indy Star. “It was more of a family decision, too. All of us just felt like it was a chance to reach my full potential and grow and get ready for the college level.”
Dillingham’s mother said she was comfortable with everything she saw at Donda Prep.
“It is my dream as well as my son’s to see him attend a four-year university,” she said. “Classes (at Donda) are online and are all NCAA-approved, so I’m not worried about his eligiblity, especially after seeing the legitimacy of their online program through the NCAA eligibilty portal online.”
Tailele said she was going to remain in her hometown of Hickory but wasn’t concerned about her 16-year-old son being so far away from home.
“I’m concerned simply for the structure that they have set in place to keep these kids on track,” she said, “and to prepare them for college and the next level. I also have family residing in LA that I trust and can have check up on Robert from time-to-time, which puts my mind at ease. Our relationship is very strong. We speak every day and every night, so it’s not as if I won’t be communicating with him on a daily basis.”
This story was originally published October 15, 2021 at 11:58 AM with the headline "It’s official. Robert Dillingham is enrolled at Kanye West’s Donda Prep, mother says."
