Robert Dillingham closes out Top Flight Invite with 35-point performance

Robert Dillingham was in Las Vegas over the weekend as he prepares for his final high school season before heading off to the University of Kentucky. The five-star point guard suited up for Donda Academy (CA) at the GEICO Top Flight Invite event, which featured plenty of the country’s top high school players and programs.

Dillingham’s squad didn’t win the entire tournament, but the future Wildcat sure did make his presence felt. He played three games for Donda, closing the event with a 35-point showing in a tight 69-67 win over LV Orange (NV). Below are his per-game averages for the entire weekend, along with statistics from each individual contest.

20.3 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 3.0 APG, 3.0 SPG, 2.0 TOPG | 19-46 FG (41.3%), 5-21 3PT (23.8%), 18-23 FT (78.2%) | 21.3 MPG

Oct. 14 (78-64 L): 9 PTS, 7 REBS, 4 ASTS, 1 STL, 2 TOs | 2-13 FG, 0-7 3PT, 5-6 FT | 15 MIN
Oct. 15 (93-75 W): 17 PTS, 3 REBS, 3 ASTS, 3 STLS, 1 BLK, 4 TOs | 7-11 FG, 3-5 3PT, 0-0 FT | 23 MIN
Oct. 16 (69-67 W): 35 PTS, 5 REBS, 2 ASTS, 5 STLS, 1 TO | 10-22 FG, 2-9 3PT, 13-17 FT | 26 MIN

Dillingham’s time in Vegas didn’t get off to a great start, but he was able to find his rhythm game by game. Donda Academy was bested in the Friday night opener by Hoop Nation (CA) 78-64 where Dillingham played his worst outing of the tournament. He finished 2-13 from the field and missed all seven of his 3-point attempts.

The crafty 6-foot-2 floor general did much better on Saturday, though. Dillingham dropped 17 points on 7-11 shooting (3-5 from distance) in a convincing 93-75 win over Air Nado (NV), which boasts ’23 four-star CG Sebastian Mack. Dillingham followed that up with an impressive 35 points against LV Orange and ’24 four-star PG John Mobley Jr., who committed to Ohio State shortly before that game began on Sunday. Dillingham added five rebounds and five steals to his stat line too, getting to the free-throw line at will (13-17).

According to the On3 Consensus, Dillingham is considered the No. 8 overall player from the class of 2023. He is the third top 10 commit for the ‘Cats, joining SF Justin Edwards (No. 3) and C Aaron Bradshaw (No. 7), the latter of whom committed to UK on Friday prior to Big Blue Madness. Kentucky’s class, which ranks No. 1 in the country, also includes four-star CG Reed Sheppard (No. 27) and could be on the verge of landing the top-overall senior prospect, CG DJ Wagner.

John Calipari’s recruiting mojo is back.