LeBron James

LeBron James (born December 30, 1984 in Akron, Ohio) is an American NBA basketball player for the Cleveland Cavaliers.

High School

James first captured attention following a solid freshman year for the Division III St. Vincent-St. Mary High School 2000 State Championship team. He averaged 25 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, and 4 steals as a sophomore as St. Vincent-St. Mary won another state title. He was named Ohio's "Mr. Basketball" and USA Today selected him for the All-USA First Team, making him the first sophomore to be honored with such a nomination. He added to his resume by being first-team all-state in high school football. In James's junior year, he averaged 29 points and 8 rebounds and was once again named Mr. Basketball and a spot on the All-USA First Team. He also began using the nickname "King" James.

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St. Vincent-St. Mary failed to defend their title as it moved up to the more-challenging Division II. LeBron then attempted to declare for the NBA draft, petitioning for an adjustment to the rule stating that a player must finish high school in order to be eligible. The petition was unsuccessful, but it led to an unprecedented level of attention on him as he entered his senior year. "King" James was already on the covers of Sports Illustrated and ESPN The Magazine. Celebrities such as Shaquille O'Neal were attending his games, a few of which were being televised nationally on ESPN2 and on pay-per-view.

Related Topics:
Sports Illustrated - ESPN - Shaquille O'Neal - ESPN2 - Pay-per-view

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Gloria James touched off a firestorm of controversy when she was allowed to use her son's future earning power as collateral to secure a bank loan to buy an $80,000 Hummer H2 for his 18th birthday, prompting an investigation by the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA). Under the OHSAA guidelines, no amateur may accept any gift valued over $100 as a reward for athletic performance. When James later accepted two jerseys from a Cleveland sports store worth $845 in exchange for him posing for pictures to be displayed on its walls, the OHSAA stripped him of his eligibility. James appealed, and a judge blocked the ruling, reducing the penalty to a two-game suspension, allowing him to play the remainder of the season. James's team was forced to forfeit one of their wins as a result. Despite the distractions, St. Vincent-St. Mary won a third state title, and James, for an unprecedented third time, was named Mr. Basketball and to the All-USA First Team. He also earned MVP honors at the McDonald's All-American Game, the EA Sports Roundball Classic, and the Jordan Capital Classic.

Related Topics:
Hummer H2 - McDonald's - EA Sports

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