LeBron James
Birthdate: 12/30/84
NBA Position: Shooting Guard
College: Unlikely
Class: HS Junior
Ht: 6-7
Wt: 215
Hometown: Akron, OH
High School: St. Vincent-St. Mary
News - The James Journal
2001 Stats
NBA Comparison: Kobe Bryant
Strengths: About as can't miss as can't miss gets. Blessed with supreme athletic gifts and the mind to maximize these tools. Very unselfish, and like Magic Johnson seems to get the most satisfation from a great pass. His vision and passing skills are one of the big aspects which set him apart from other 6-7 wing freaks. Lending to his amazing composure on the floor are his supreme vision and court sense. Has another gear to blow by virtually any defender, and has great leaping ability to get above the rim for spectacular finishes. LeBron excels against top competition, as evidenced in his showdown with Lenny Cooke at the ABCD Camp where he outscored the previous year's MVP and top 3 Senior (Cooke) 25-9. He capped the game off with a three pointer at the buzzer to win the game. A very fundamentally sound player with excellent form on his jumpshot. The sky is truly the limit.
Weaknesses: Still has physical developing in front of him but at just 16, strength does not appear to be a long term issue. Age, the task at hand is staying focused and continuing to develop, without developing a fat head. As Randy Newman said, "It's lonely at the top."
As a freshman, LeBron led his High School team, St Vincent/St Mary's to a perfect 27-0 record and a State Div III title.
As a sophomore, he led SVSM to another State title and an eventual 25-2 record placing 5th in the USA Today National poll. Facing Oak Hill Academy, a perennial powerhouse which recruits the cream of the crop players Nationally and even Internationally to play for them. LeBron was scintilating with a 33 point performance and gave the eventual National Champions all they could handle with a one point scare.
LeBron toyed with the idea of declaring for the NBA draft after his JUNIOR HS season. It would have entailed challenging the NBA rule that a player must be 18 and wait until his class graduates in order to declare for the draft. Some feel that the rule could be succesfully challenged. But Lebron has since come to his senses saying he will complete High School before exploring his options.