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Even before basketball superstar LeBron James joined the NBA in 2003, national sports media had already taken notice, carefully following his story through his high school days in Akron, Ohio. And Peacock’s Shooting Stars takes a look at those early years—and the friends who stood by him through his rise to stardom.
Shooting Stars begins in the ‘90s, with four kids who spent every spare minute together on the courts of Akron, thanks to the encouragement of Coach Dru Joyce (Wood Harris). When it was time for the Fab Four to start high school, they surprised everyone by choosing to play together at St. Vincent-St. Mary instead of getting split up at the public high school. And though the four freshman players had to fight their way off the bench, they soon proved that they were a force to be reckoned with.
Based on the book by James and Friday Night Lights author Buzz Bissinger, Shooting Stars follows the kids through the ups and downs of their high school basketball careers: the brutal practices, the championship games, the friendships, and the growing media attention.
Of course, this is LeBron’s story—the story of the people and experiences that helped to shape him into a sports legend. It follows him through the biggest wins and the brutal losses, as his coaches try to keep him humble and focused in spite of his growing fame. It’s a lot for a teenager to handle: the interviews and Sports Illustrated covers, the fans hounding him for pictures and autographs. But the film shows how the influence of people like Coach Dru helped him understand what really mattered.
But just as a young LeBron (played by Mookie Cook) learns that it’s not all about him, this movie isn’t all about him, either. It’s about four kids who grew up together, dreaming of their future in The League—and, later, five teenagers who trained and played and hung out together. Each of these young men faced their own challenges—from Lil Dru (Caleb McLaughlin), who fights to play in spite of his size, to Willie McGee (Avery Wills), who struggles with being overshadowed by his superstar friend. Admittedly, the other four and their experiences could have featured more into the story, but, together, these characters tell a story that’s about more than just basketball.
While LeBron is the obvious draw, Shooting Stars isn’t just about a basketball superstar’s rise to stardom. It’s more of an inspirational sports drama than one player’s biography. And while it doesn’t offer anything especially surprising, it’s still a charming feel-good film about friendship and basketball.
You can go back in time with LeBron and the Fab Four when Shooting Stars arrives on Peacock on June 2, 2023.
Listen to the review on Reel Discovery:
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