KING JAMES
High School
• Was the consensus 2003 National High School Player of the Year.
• Was selected the Parade Magazine High School Boys Basketball Player of the Year as a junior (2002) and senior (2003), becoming the first repeat winner in the 47-year history of the award.
• Named the USA Today and Gatorade Player of the Year as both a junior and senior.
• Named Mr. Basketball for the state of Ohio by the Associated Press for three straight seasons beginning with his sophomore year.
• Named to USA Today All-USA First Team three consecutive seasons beginning with his sophomore season.
• Led St. Vincent-St. Mary High School to three state championships in his four seasons.
• All told, during his four seasons at St. Vincent-St. Mary he compiled 2,657 points, 892 rebounds and 523 assists.
• Was selected MVP of the 2003 McDonald’s High School American Game (27 points, seven rebounds, seven assists and led East to a 122-107 win), the EA Sports Roundball Classic (28 points, six rebounds, five assists and led West to a 120-119 win),and the Jordan Capital Classic (234 points, 12 rebounds, six assists in a 107-102 loss).
• As a senior averaged 31.6 ppg., 9.6 rpg., 4.6 apg. and 3.,4 spg., While leading team to a 25-1 record and the USA Today national high school championship.
• Recorded 25 points and 11 rebounds as SVSM defeated Kettering Alter 40-36 on March 22, 2003, to win a third Ohio state championship.
• As a junior, led SVSM to a state championship runner-up finish and averaged 29.0 ppg., 8.3 rpg., 5.7 apg. and 3.3 spg.
• During his sophomore season in 2000-01, led SVSM to the Division II state tilte and the team finished ranked 5th in the USA Today Super 25 rankings. Averaged 25.2 ppg., 7.2 rpg., 5.8 apg. and 3.8 spg.
• Aided team to a 27-0 record and the Division III state title as a freshman in 1999-2000, averaged 18.0 ppg. and 6.2 rpg.
LeBron James, the 18-year-old Akron, OH, high school phenom who has garnered national attention since his sophomore year, was chosen No. 1 overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers, which was a surprise only to anyone who has lived in a closet for this past year.
"This is a longtime dream and I finally accomplished it. The hard work finally paid off for me," James said on draft night, standing out as he glowed in his all-white custom-made suit.
Though James hasn't played a basketball game at the pro level, his image has already made an impact in the NBA and he is a household name.
James lives up to his hype. He's a 6-foot-8, 240 pounder with the skills of a guard and the body of a forward. His passing ability is so highly regarded that he's looked upon as the next Magic Johnson.
OK, you may be scratching your head thinking James is not the first high school player to jump straight to the NBA. As a matter of fact, only two years ago, another high school player, Kwame Brown, was drafted No. 1 overall by the Washington Wizards. However, there has been no other player to enter the league with such a complete package of talent that has generated so much excitement and who has scored lucrative endorsement deals before ever signing a pro contract.