Peacock film 'Shooting Stars' shows ties between LeBron James, Dru Joyce III and friends

After sharing their story before in the documentary film “More Than a Game” no one could blame any of the Fab Five for not wanting to walk the familiar path through their high school careers at St. Vincent-St. Mary.

But Sian Cotton, Romeo Travis, Willie McGee, LeBron James and Dru Joyce III are being portrayed on screen in the Peacock film “Shooting Stars,” which is based on the book James authored with Buzz Bissinger in 2009. It begins streaming Friday.

“More Than a Game,” while giving significant time to James’ supporting cast, ultimately focused on the hoops phenom.

For much of “Shooting Stars,” Joyce III’s part in the LeBron James story sits front and center, dealing with one pivotal decision (yes, there’s one that pre-dates James going to Miami) made by Joyce III, and detailed by the Beacon Journal’s Nate Ulrich.

Joyce III, portrayed in the film by “Stranger Things” actor Caleb McLaughlin, looked at the possibility of starting his high school career on the junior varsity at Buchtel High School but ultimately elected to take his talents to North Maple Street instead.

"Stranger Things" actor in LeBron movie: Caleb McLaughlin, as Dru Joyce III, helps bring story of LeBron James to Peacock

The St. Vincent-St. Mary decision for Dru Joyce III ... and LeBron James

Joyce called it a turning point and said it helped to make all five the individuals they became.

“I don’t know if the decision was better, I just know it worked,” he said during a recent phone conversation.

And everyone involved reaped the benefits. The Irish won state championships in three of the Fab Four’s (later the Fab Five with the addition of Travis) high school years. Their final season in 2003 included a USA Today National Championship.

They also drew backlash.

“I didn't really didn't care," Joyce said. "When you make decisions, you got people who are for it and people are against it and people who support you, support it. Some who don't. And I understood that. I think I was probably a little bit deaf to it because I tried to be. I didn't want to hear or try to listen to anything negative that had to be said. So, I just kind of put my head down and went about my business.”

It was different for his father, Dru Joyce II (veteran actor Wood Harris in the movie), who was on the Buchtel coaching staff as an assistant to head coach Harvey Sims, and Sian Cotton’s father, Lee.

“We, coach Cotton and I, definitely felt it, but we believed that the decision to that ultimately was made was the right one, and that's how we moved,” the elder Joyce said.

"Shooting Stars" actors: Here's who plays who in LeBron James movie streaming on Peacock

The Fab Five's move to St. Vincent-St. Mary strengthened bonds

Bonds are often forged in fire. The friendship of the Fab Five was no different.

“I don’t think the people maybe around the city may have thought that we would all stick together after that decision,” Joyce III said. “But things turned out the way I thought they would.”

And that includes the enduring friendship the quintuplet shares to this day. Think about the moment this past February when James, now playing for the Los Angeles Lakers, eclipsed Lakers legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s NBA scoring record in a game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. James’ four friends were in attendance to share in the moment. That is a significant statement given the passage of time.

“It’s not even that he is trying, it was his character as a child. So, I think certain things you do hold onto from your childhood, and that's one of them, his ability to see whole perspective, his ability to be unselfish,” Joyce II said, “So, to me, for him it's like it's second nature. So not even like he had to sit down and think about it. … It's always been natural for him to look out for people.”

Even with James playing away from Northeast Ohio, the friendship remains strong, he said.

“If one of them ever called, I’m going to be there for them without a doubt, whether I talked to them yesterday or six weeks ago, it doesn't really matter,” he said. “And it is what it is. I think we, we've shared common goals, common interests. We believe in who each other are as people and we unite with that. So that's why our bond is so strong.”

Joyce II, who coached the Fab Five as seniors to their state title/national championship season, said it was important to get the essence of the guys’ friendship on the screen.

“And as long as they made what it was, then I'm happy because that's what this was all about, friendship,” he said. “And there wasn't anything that was opposite of that and that's why they're still friends today.”

Actor from 'Stranger Things' helps put the bonds of friendship into 'Shooting Stars'

“Shooting Stars” director Chris Robinson ultimately gets the impact of the group friendship on the screen with the aid of McLaughlin, by now a seasoned actor after years on “Stranger Things,” and a cast of relative newcomers.

McLaughlin’s portrayal of Joyce III gives the film much of its heart as his perspective centers the story. Yes, you can’t tell this story without James, but the friendship is key, and Joyce III represented the fulcrum of that friendship, considering they followed his lead to STVM.

McLaughlin is the best known of the cast with respect to the acting world. Up-and-coming basketball players Marquis Cook, who plays a young James, and Scoot Henderson, who plays a young Travis and is expected to be an early pick in this year’s NBA Draft, are known in the hoops world.

But McLaughlin’s presence telegraphs how the story would be handled, and there was a sense of give and take between Joyce III and McLaughlin. The actor wanted to be as authentic as possible, according to Joyce III.

“It was just him giving me a sense of how the movie was being portrayed and how the story was coming to be,” Joyce III said. “And on the other end it was me kind of identifying elements of the story that he wanted to make sure he was correct, how my relationships with my brothers were.

“I think the cool part was him conversating with me just trying to learn more and understand who I was so he can be in character. It was cool to see him do his work.”

George M. Thomas dabbles in movies and television for the Beacon Journal.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: LeBron James' Peacock movie shows strength of STVM Fab 5's bond