“The world is a small place.”  Indeed it is. Especially if you’re a part of either the media or the sports industry. It is reckoned that anyone who doesn’t want to go on an entrepreneurial journey should either be a player or in the media if they want to earn through the roof. Whether it is Jaylen Brown‘s connection with Bernis Burgos or Taylor Swift hanging out with Travis Kelce, the connection between the media stars and athletes is strong and close.

One such cordial relationship was displayed by the American Rapper Kanye West and Rob Dillingham. Though the two didn’t hang out with each other still shared something more than acquaintance and less than brotherhood and it all started with West starting his academy- the Donda Academy. So let’s take a look at their link.

Rob Dillingham’s time at the Donda Academy

Rob Dillingham is an emerging balling star who played for the Kentucky Wildcats from 2023-24. Born in North Carolina West Dillingham showed an affinity towards basketball at a young age. For high school, he got recruited into the Combine Academy near his home in North Carolina. He slowly made his place in the Combine Academy and emerged as one of the mainstay players by his sophomore year.

During his second year, he averaged a whopping 21.2 points per game and also contributed efficiently with his assists and rebounds. Thus, he showed the beginning of a complete player. He was such a popular player in high school that Kanye West’s Donda Academy recruited him in California so they could find him more playing opportunities against the top teams in the country which involved a lot of travel. Thus Ye’s plan was to give the kids a mini tour of what NBA would be like.

However, a controversy erupted due to Ye’s over-the-top comments which were deemed by many as not fitting to a man of his stature. After that the academy had to be shut down abruptly, and Dillingham transferred to the Overtime Elite. His run of exceptional performances continued irrespective of his transfer and he prepped up to deliver on the big stage. Meanwhile, Donda Academy continued to be embroiled in controversy.

Ye’s Donda Academy is surrounded by controversy

Ye had opened the academy after the name of her mother Donda West. It attracted a lot of celebrity kids in the beginning and was going through an exceptional trajectory. However, Kanye’s controversies caused the academy to fight for its image and a lot of people withdrew from the school. A lot of teachers also resigned from the Academy and two of them also filed lawsuits.

The Academy was shut on October 27, 2022, but the guardians of the students were notified that the school would reopen the next day. However, multiple issues were erupting with the school, and finally, on November 3, 2022, Dillingham left Donda. His teammates JJ Taylor and Chuck Bailey III also didn’t continue for long in the school and decided to join other programs.

Dillingham’s meeting with such high-profile stars was the beginning of what was to come. Since he had been attracted by Donda, he was an exemplary player who deserved the fame and recognition he later got in life. Hopefully, he will forget the negative episodes and only concentrate on the positivity of his past and continue to grow like he has been doing at the moment.

Stay tuned for more such updates, and to follow what Shaq’s ex-agent, Leonard Armato, has to say about the infamous Shaq-Kobe feud, Caitlin Clark’s Olympic snub, and more, watch this video.