Many high school basketball players aspire to be the next LeBron James.
AZ Compass Prep (Chandler, Ariz.) junior
Mookie Cook has actually been cast to play him in a Hollywood production of
Shooting Stars, which is set to stream on Peacock in 2023.
According to
The Hollywood Reporter, the 6-foot-7, 200-pound Cook started filming the adapted 2009 book about James' high school life this week in Akron, Ohio, and other locations in near Cleveland.
The book, written by James and Buzz Bissinger, chronicled LeBron's life as a prep phenom and the trials and tribulations at
St. Vincent-St. Mary (Akron) along with his close-knit friends, tabbed the "Fab Four."
While James' own son,
Bronny James, a junior recruit from
Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.), certainly resembles his father, at 6-3 his build doesn't quite match like Cook, a MaxPreps Junior All-American. Regarded as the No. 5 prospect in the Class of 2023 by
247Sports, he averaged 11.5 points per game to help AZ Compass Prep (25-5) to its second straight GEICO Nationals appearance.
Marquis 'Mookie' Cook has been cast to play LeBron James in the upcoming Hollywood film, 'Shooting Stars."
Photo by Mark Jones
Cook played his first two prep seasons at
Jefferson (Portland, Ore.) before transferring to the Arizona independent school. He committed on Feb. 10 to play at the University of Oregon, one of his 22 college offers.
According to the Reporter, Stranger Things star Caleb McLaughlin plays Dru Joyce III, one of James' best friends and the son of St. Vincent coach Dru Joyce II, who is played by Wood Harris.
James' storied four-year prep career featured national magazine covers, regular appearances on ESPN and multiple national player of the year honors. After averaging 31.6 points, 9.6 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 3.4 steals as a senior, he bypassed a college career and was the No. 1 pick of the 2003 NBA Draft by his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers.
