HS hoops star LeBron James ruled ineligible

Yahoo News ^ | 1-31-2003 | By TOM WITHERS, AP Sports Writer

[Lost Highway]

CLEVELAND - High school basketball star LeBron James was ruled ineligible to play for the rest of the season because he accepted free clothes.

The decision Friday by the Ohio High School Athletic Association comes four days after James, a senior at St. Vincent-St. Mary, was cleared for accepting a $50,000 sport utility vehicle as a gift from his mother.

Last Saturday, James was given two retro sports jerseys from a clothing store. The jerseys, honoring former Chicago Bears (news) running back Gale Sayers and former Washington Bullets (news) center Wes Unseld, cost a combined $845.

James' school must forfeit Sunday's game, the association said in a news release.

The 6-foot-8 James is considered the best high school player in the country and is expected to be the top player selected in June's NBA draft.

St. Vincent-St. Mary has five games left in the season, in addition to playoffs.

After reviewing a report about the jerseys, the association said James received them in exchange for posing for pictures to be hung on the store's walls.

The association's rules state that an athlete forfeits amateur status by "capitalizing on athletic fame by receiving money or gifts of monetary value."

"In talking with the store's personnel, I was able to confirm that on Jan. 25 the merchant gave clothing directly to LeBron at no cost," OHSAA Commissioner Clair Muscaro said. "This is a direct violation of the OHSAA bylaws on amateurism, because, in fact, LeBron did capitalize on athletic fame by receiving these gifts."

James refused to comment about the jerseys Thursday night at the Greater Cleveland Sports Awards; he was honored as the area's top high school athlete for the second straight year. He did allude to "all the controversy that's going on with me" during his acceptance speech.

"I'd like to thank my teammates for helping me through all this," he said. "It will be in the paper, but remember, I'm on the honor roll with a 3.5 grade-point average."

Earlier this month, James drew attention in Akron by driving around a new custom-made Hummer H2, which he received as a present for his 18th birthday. His mother, Gloria James, provided loan information to prove she had purchased the vehicle.

On Monday, Muscaro ruled that James would not lose his eligibility for accepting the vehicle.

Muscaro said he asked school administrators at St. Vincent-St. Mary on Friday for a chance to speak with James.

"But LeBron did not want to speak with me," Muscaro said, adding that James is the first athlete he has declared ineligible in his 14 years as commissioner.

"I think this sends a message that we are all about fairness," Muscaro said. "LeBron is being treated like any one of the thousands of student-athletes in Ohio."

Muscaro said his ruling addressed only the issue of James receiving the two jerseys.

"Naturally, LeBron is talented and he's noted nationally and internationally, but as far as this association is concerned, we will treat him the same as all our other athletes."

[mr.pink]

High school basketball star LeBron James was ruled ineligible to play for the rest of the season because he accepted free clothes.

His punishment includes having to accept the multi-million dollar Nike check now that he is no longer playing High School ball.

[TonyInOhio]

High school basketball star LeBron James was ruled ineligible to play for the rest of the season

Good riddance.

Akron St.Vincent/St.Mary's knocked my alma mater, Ottawa-Glandorf High School, out of last year's state tournament on the back of Mr. James' performance. We hope to return this year, but they won't. :-)

Tony

[ThePythonicCow]

From http://www.kidzworld.com:

---

Lebron James Picture

Lebron James - Future NBA Star

You could say that things are going pretty well for Lebron James right now. Kobe and Shaq come to watch him play ball and he's about to sign a million dollar shoe contract. All this and he hasn't even finished high school yet. It's a sweet life and it can only get better for Lebron - the most talked about basketball player who's not in the NBA, yet.

Lebron James plays for St. Vincent-St. Mary high school in Akron, Ohio and will almost certainly be the first player picked in the 2003 NBA draft. He's a six-foot seven point guard/power forward who blows by defenders like they were statues and regularly breaks rims with his highlight-reel slam dunks. He's been dominating high school basketball in Ohio since he was a freshman when he averaged 18 points a game and led St.Vincent-St. Mary to a 27-0 record. In his sophmore year, Lebron James led his team to another state title and was named Mr. Basketball for Ohio. Since then, the hype around Lebron has been building faster than that pile of dirty underwear in the corner of your room.

After his junior year, Lebron James was offered a nine million dollar contract to play basketball in Italy and he would've been a top pick in the 2002 NBA draft if league rules had allowed it (a player must be 18 years old to be picked.) His high school games are now shown on television. He's been on the cover of almost every basketball magazine out there and shoe companies are lining up to get Lebron's name on a multi-million dollar endorsement contract.

Will Lebron James live up to the hype once he reaches the NBA? Will he be the next Kobe or Kevin Garnett? It's tough to tell but Lebron is already living the life of a basketball superstar.

Useless Fact About Lebron James

• Lebron has his mom's name, Gloria, tattooed on his biceps. His mom wears a school basketball jersey to games with the words, "Lebron's Mom" on the back.

[traditional1]

This is a joke...the mother is no way able to afford the Hummer, and that got past the OHSAA, but now they said he went to far.

He may pull one of those "If I don't play for L.A. Lakers or N.Y. Nets, I'm going to college" stunts to avoid being drafted to the Cleveland Cavaliers, I think.

[ilgipper]

I had really appreciated his abilities last year and early this year, but this guy and his mom are absolute morons. The guy could have waited a few weeks for the Hummer and the jerseys and also gotten that Nike deal and #1 pick shortly thereafter. No sense whatsoever.

[Republic of Texas]

This is stupid. They were just mad that they couldn't nail him for the Hummer.

[dfwgator]

Odds are in ten years he'll be broke working as a janitor.

[GoreIsLove]

he'll be walking on mars before he's ever broke and a janitor.

[Republic of Texas]

He is soon going to sign several multi-million dollar contracts. ANY bank would be happy to loan his Mom the money, based on future earnings. And that is NOT illegal.

[mr.pink]

He may pull one of those "If I don't play for L.A. Lakers or N.Y. Nets, I'm going to college" stunts to avoid being drafted to the Cleveland Cavaliers, I think.

No way will he be able to use the "I'm going to college" threat as he's gonna' grab the sneaker money right away and once he does that it's the NBA or European Ball.

Will the NBA rig the draft lottery....like they allegedly did for Pat Ewing?...me thinks so.

[dfwgator]

Maybe so, but there's been plenty of "can't miss" high school players who ended up not amounting to anything in the NBA.

[Republic of Texas]

He's going to get a $20 million SHOE contract. Not to mention his
Basketball contract. The closest he'll come to a janitor is the one he hires.

[Johnny Gage]

great just what the NBA needs. Another over paid spoiled baby of boy who thinks he's king of the floor.

soorry, but I hope he blows out his ACL the first week of play.

[babaloo999]

At least then they can pay off the loan for the Hummer before that interest starts adding up.

[GoreIsLove]

not like this. he'll sign a $20-$25 million contract with nike or adidas within the next three months. there will be a lot of people who will make damn sure that this kid doesn't fail.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

Saw a profile of this player on ESPN and he's really an awesome player.

Unfortunately he's hired a body guard to keep the girls away, his parents seem addicted to the prospect of Nike bucks, and he doesn't have his head screwed on right.

Expect him to have John Daly/Mike Tysonesque problems the moment he cashes his first professional paycheck.

[mountaineer]

This kid's been a pro for a long time.

[Karsus]

" soorry, but I hope he blows out his ACL the first week of play."

What a hypocrite.

From your sig "(God Bless our Military, God Bless President George W. Bush and God Bless America!)"

Sorry, the Christian comments in your sig do not mesh with your statement that a young man have harm done to him.

[ewing]

I guess he can pay for that Hummer now!