By LARRY VAUGHT
Kentucky freshman basketball player Chris Livingston hopes to be a star on the court this season for the Wildcats but he will also be part of a star movie production.
A film based on the book, Shooting Stars, about NBA superstar LeBron James is coming to Peacock in 2023 and will document James’ early life in Akron, Ohio, which is also Livingston’s hometown.
“LeBron’s been a mentor and been a real role model ever since I was a kid. Obviously the role model aspect has taken its next step because we have a personal relationship now. He’s been huge in my life and I really appreciate the things he’s done,” Livingston said.
The UK freshman understands how much James has done for youth basketball in Akron and that he was always giving back. He admits he sometimes knew LeBron was around camps he attended when he was growing up.
James wanted Livingston with his Akron roots in the movie and he plays the role of “one of the better players LeBron played (against)” in a major rivalry in Akron
Livingston goes against former UK target/Oregon commit Mookie Cookie who plays the role of James.
“It’s great being part of something like this. I even had a couple of lines,” Livingston said
Livingston understands that people have different opinions about James and even noted that another NBA star, Pau George, is his on-court role model. He wears No. 24 like George. He also said he liked watching Derrick Rose, who played for John Calipari at Memphis, play.
Those athletic-type players molded Livingston’s game and now he is a unique 6-7, 220-pound college freshman.
“I have a wide variety of what I can do. Obviously, versatility is how you describe it. I really can shoot it, get downhill.”
He says he can make plays passing or off the dribble.
“I have a really really really high motor,” he said.
Livingston was impressive when UK played four games in the Bahamas.
Jeff Drummond, managing editor for Cats Illustrated at Rivals.com, has quickly become a Livingston fan.
“I think Chris Livingston has me more intrigued about a player’s potential than I’ve seen in a long while. Had no idea he was this good in all phases of the game,” Drummond said after watching him in the Bahamas.