LeBron James' high school team beats SoCal powerhouse Mater Dei (2003) | ESPN Archive

the best highschool player on the planet and the probable number one pick in this coming summer's NBA Draft LeBron James brings his act to the west coast a st. Vincent st. Mary of Akron Ohio right 9th in the country and unbeaten on the season it takes on a powerhouse from Santa Ana California number for modern day here in Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles well it has been quite a season so far for LeBron James of course the game on espn2 a few weeks ago when they beat number one Oak Hill by 20 points an overtime win over number six Brookhaven of Columbus over the Christmas break and now they're out here on the west coast to take on modern day we've got a couple of guys who have seen LeBron James in person let's get their thoughts on what we're going to see her tonight and yes this is the same guy who was doing an NBA game on ABC in Dallas earlier today thanks for making it in I know us some allegiance to the building which we'll talk about at some point here tonight but Bill Walton of course is with us you've been following LeBron James now closely ever since we saw him a few weeks ago what have you learned about him in the last few weeks Dan in those three weeks the most impressive thing to me as being that the closer we've looked the better this guy appears he has the absolute complete package his ability to make his teammates the start of the game delivering the ball on the mark and when things break down he can shake and bake create his own shot unparalleled athleticism LeBron James has been on such a spotlight now for quite a long time but now he finds himself on the biggest of stages with a huge crowd here basketball eyes from the history of Southern California basketball here to see just how good this guy is they will not leave disappointed this guy is unique special and we are privileged to be here today just about a full house here at Pauley Pavilion a former high school star from Southern California said man this is different from what I used to play on so he didn't get 12,000 for his games Jay Bilas what specific part in LeBron James's game impresses you the most well Bill Walton talked about the complete pack which LeBron James has but I'm most impressed by his ability to pass the ball coaches will tell you that they can teach a player how to pass but they cannot teach a player how to see LeBron James can see and he sees the entire floor he can pass ahead he knows what is the right pass to make in the course of a game he doesn't pass to be flashy he passes because it's the right play and when you watch players like Kobe Bryant in high school Bryant had the same skill level of LeBron James he wasn't quite the imposing physical presence and he could not pass the way LeBron James can pass he's truly special I want to know how a Southern California lad like yourself didn't come to UCLA well they didn't recruit me hard enough that's what it was Joyce puts up the runner no good gets the rebound and Cory Jones knocks one down from the baseline that's the point that should be made about this st. Vincent st. Mary team it's not LeBron James for guys who can't play basketball the other kids are pretty good too Shayne loses the handle gets it back misses a short one gets it again in the block to Romeo Travis like noticing the absence of Sean cotton the football player who anchors his presence is really going to be a major factor here leave it to st. Mary undefeated on the season without him there a different day he is playing in a high school all-american game football game tomorrow another miss for James botanist is 6-4 290-pound defensive tackle nears strawberry has it blocked when Romeo travis is a really active player in a great offensive rebound here's James show time early for LeBron James and a little extra on that one but still it was the right play the past behind to an open man and a five-second violation the press quickly electrifies this crowd the buzz still going through and this is a town that has seen phenomenal passing from Walt Hazzard to Greg Lee to Magic Johnson Kobe Bryant Shaquille O'Neal Kareem abdul-jabbar and now LeBron James laying the dime down and Gary McKnight not too worried about the pass going behind he's wondering where all the red shirts get back in transition defense Joyce misses the three now run out for modern-day and the slam by Marcel Jones is 611 six seven rather junior that's where mater Dave can score a lot of points he's in transition they're a team that likes to run they won motion offense when they get into a half-court set but they want to get the ball downcourt quickly and score they don't run a secondary break they want score on their initial yeah as long as he don't touches now you can do those as Garrity again boy he is not shy about getting into the paint well that's what he does he is a penetrator he's working on his perimeter shot and as a sophomore he's getting a lot of attention in recruiting and will be won right now he's one of the best sophomores in California but he's got the chance to be one of the best point guards in America Jones the LOB inside and LeBron James has his first two points of the game the game in Cleveland that we did it was the breakaway dunk that was the spark for LeBron James Washington with a bit of a spark to the other end right now st. Vincent st. Mary's definitely needs some transition defense line drive jumper no good by Travis and it's been one shot and out and for Saint Vincent st. Mary's and that's why they beat Oak Hill was their offensive rebound nearly stolen to by James Jones hits the floor but the Monarchs get it back and it will call a timeout tied at 13 early in the second quarter with the bill Walton and Jeff Ellis I'm damn sure look Ron James it looked like DJ strawberry relaxed a little bit when that pass was coming in instead of being down in a stance he stood straight up and James took full advantage of him and Shayne a little bit late in getting over to put a body in front of James before he could get to the basket but it was that initial defensive position that allowed James to get to the hole the creativity the imagination the balance the ability to change the move to the next one once the defense commits this guy's got it man against boys seven points for James let me ask you guys we've seen him twice and it's it seems obvious that his ability to get to the basket right now hold the rides his ability to shoot the long jumper so Jay why do you think there go why do you think he has set up the long jumpers on occasion of both of the games we've seen well one it's a little bit sexier I think the shoot jumpers instead of taking the ball to the basket every time and because people have talked about it myself included that that's something he needs to work on and is not the best thing that he does I think he tends to overcompensate and try to prove that he can do it Thank You Jay I play at center I'd say get in the post you're the biggest guy out there you're the strongest guy out there and play like Magic Johnson used to play and play like you used to play when you got the ball inside people could cut off of you and you are a great passer and really were revolutionized the game as a big man yes I remember I told Dan Shulman this earlier today and I do not say this just because you were here if you did not get hurt as a pro I think we would see a different game now than we see one where the big man is implemented more as a passer a more skilled player right now we don't see that I think it's a shame well the big men want to play on the perimeter as you pointed out the ability of LeBron James to knock down that shot with the soft touch only encourages the more wild play that we saw in the early going and he is gonna be a good shooter and the reason I say that I don't think he's a great shooter now but he's gonna be a really consistent shooter in the future because he shoots the ball with ease his mechanics are good he will refine that shot I think he's got all the tools to be sugar connects levels don't you think though the Ricci wage scale can tend to chase some kids out of school early simply because they want to get the clock started on their second third contract which is a gigantic mistake on their part right James to Joyce for three you've got to make James and you got to make Joyce put the ball on the floor same thing with Jones if they don't put it on the floor they will knock down shots all day Garrity go on to the basket all day but how about this st. Vincent st. Mary's team this team comes out and looks so bad it'd be opening moments and now they are just hammering and modern day at Mater Dei was clearly the best team with the first eight minutes of this ball game well they've calmed down a little bit and also what they've done is spread the floor out a little more and they've made better use of LeBron James who he does it everywhere look here on defense with Harrison Schoen I mean this kid is a good leaper Harrison Shayne taking the ball to the basket and James putting it into the seats the left hand the on the way down the body control so many of the players that we have coming up in the game today at all levels they only could play with their athletic skills right this guy really has a basketball game if he couldn't run fast or jump high we've still be talking about this guy it being an outstanding basketball player but you put the physical the mental the spiritual and that psychological package together a guy who loves the spotlight we're in for a treat for many years and he's not yet been systematized and by that I mean he's not paid into a position where somebody says hey son you're a power forward get inside and alright he's a player and he's he's learned how to play instead of how to play a position thank goodness well but there gets 5,000 fans of games and losing names like Northern Arizona so they got a big win today against Washington State Kapono with 44 point about that that's now referred to as a big win that was strawberry by the way down the 15-foot jump shot he's got five here's James look at the job DJ's drummer yeah on LeBron James working hard now he leads the break turns it over though and the Irish will get another chance here's James to the basket as well Dan when he's coming down as a defensive player I loved it when the guys would come at you and my favorite was when dr. J or David Thompson Michael Jordan those guys would just come at you and you just live for those one-on-one confrontation this guy comes right at you have no wife here that ability to stop start explode put it through the legs what are you supposed to do as a defender let's find out what they do with him here he gets his shot anytime he wants and he knocks it down and James who had only two in the first quarter has 13 here in the second quarter he's gonna need LeBron days rule on how warm up better way to smoke that's the experience we've had on both occasions the first tab comes to an end st. Vincent st. Mary led by LeBron James who has half of his team's points with a 32:24 lead over Mater Dei ranked number four in the country well a guy who's going to obliterate a few records along the way LeBron James again a very slow start in the first quarter but a terrific second quarter as he started to take over the game LeBron James won't go after a predictably slow start and I just don't like the way they approach these beginning quarters of these games but LeBron James put on them the complete show as we fully anticipated going left so difficult to do exhibiting the soft touch the creativity the imagination the defense the rebound it's all right there and Phil how many times at every level of basketball do you see when a bad shot is taken and even though it's a it was a make little shot for James that was a bad shot the other team goes down picked the three on for most universal and now it turn over monarchs on the move Nelson pulls up and misses the bank good job that time goal by Chris manly running the floor joy snow to settle things down a little bit his coach his dad may be biased fold of the heart and soul of the st. Vincent st. Mary - he said LeBron James obviously was the best player but they all rally around rejoice he likes the way to something really helped him set the tempo when they need a basket right now they're making the modern-day defense move before they attack them Joyce like Travis going to Akron another turnover and here's Jones and he got a grill is that foul that's embarrassing that isn't there that's a horrible horrible Jones for three at the other end but how did that go on call it's almost like all three of them were waiting for one of the other two to blow the whistle [Music] [Applause] Levante Nelson for three left it short and the rebounded James beautiful bounce pass since and reverse layup they just makes the right play time after time when he's got the ball J how about the ability oh there's no where the long rebound to play that was mad jeepers now those guys they saw the play before anybody off this Henry inside and it's back to 12 and a nice job by Henry to catch it and blow up immediately and not allow the block the time the material it's amazing when you look at the ten players on the court how much physically more mature LeBron how does that happen and what's going to happen when he's out there when everyone else has the same physical maturity well if he does go to the NBA and becomes the first pick it steps in presumably on a porter on a Horace team right so he becomes the starter right away and he's got to travel more and play more minutes and play against stronger people and what kind of a transition you see it making though it'll always be difficult his teammates will have so much determination as to how successful he ultimately is remember maggots were screen he was playing with Murray his work ethic I think will determine a lot his Drive it is different for each guy what a pass you talked about the passing at the beginning that speaking of work ethic making that pass instead of preening around he runs back in transition defense strawberry's still covering James there's James inside his first field goal of the second half and he goes inside ball reversal he's open for a layup left that's where he needs to be a little bit more now here's James it's a five on two James will take it himself follow his mess and again no wave it off over the back on LeBron James over he's back times winding down on modern day is LeBron James in Santa Vincent Santa Maria of Akron Ohio remain undefeated they pick up their third win over a top 10 team already this season that about their record at two eight a no and they didn't really see seriously threatened that and he pointed to the moves of the game which is overall the biggest picture to accomplish here tonight they are a force on the national scene ranked 23rd at the beginning of the season they're up to ninth right now and with wins in the past week over number six and number four they are sure to move up in the USA Today super 25 ranked they're also a force of the business page of the decision isn't that the truth isn't that the truth he's been on the cover of so many magazines and newspapers on national television he is on his way to the NBA we believe and the likely number one overall pick and LeBron James is going to become a household name if he's not already Perry very soon again the final score here at a poly sentiments in Santa Mary's 64 modern-day 58 LeBron James leads his team to another way thanks for watching ESPN on YouTube for live streaming sports and premium content subscribe to ESPN Plus

Channel: ESPN Throwback

Views: 696,133

Rating: 4.8849158 out of 5

Keywords: lebron james, lebron, lebron james high school highlights, lebron high school highlights, lebron james st vincent st mary, lebron james vs mater dei, lebron vs mater dei, lebron high scohol, lebron high school dunks, lebron high school game, lebron james high school mix, st vincent st mary vs mater dei, st vincent st mary vs mater dei 2003, st vincent st mary, lebron james high school dunks, nba, basketball, espn, espn live, espn archive

Id: 0kKE2lhm6dY

Length: 16min 32sec (992 seconds)

Published: Wed Mar 25 2020

Reddit Comments

[u/EGarrett]

I don't know why they don't give the full stat-line. He had 21 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists in this game and shot 8 for 24 (he was 0-for-9 from 3).

I have a graphic with his game-by-game high school box scores. Tried to share it here before but the mods wouldn't let me for some reason.