LeBron James' high school team upsets No. 1 Oak Hill Academy (2002) | ESPN Archive

a high-school game here in Cleveland has attracted a crowd of 10,000 here tonight but it's not just any high school game it's phenom LeBron James against the number one ranked team in the country Oak Hill LeBron mania goes national here tonight [Music] [Applause] [Music] among those who have seen him play even among many of those who have it there appears to be no debate LeBron James is the best high school player in the country and he was even last year when he was a junior and he likely they say will go number one of the draft should he go straight to the NBA he's got a chance to play on national television here tonight against the number one team in the country Oak Hill the Warriors win or contend for national championships it seems year after year hi everybody I'm Dan Shulman here in Cleveland and we've got a star-studded game out on the court among these great high school talents you get a lot of announcers here to give us their perspective on this game as well as I turn first to my right we bring in dick vitalic or synonymous with our college basketball coverage tell us a little bit about what you know about LeBron James well I'll tell you one thing Dan when you talk about LeBron James it's been a runaway freight train the Express would hype it has started two years ago he was on the cover last year Sports Illustrated on the cover of ESPN magazine this week and Adams all created curiosity curiosity curiosity hey he's one of those teenage phenom that come along and they're given sport and are so gifted like a Venus Williams and Serena Williams a Tiger Woods a Kobe Bryant and Alex Rodriguez and all I know is if he's half as good as all I've heard about him he is going to be one special athlete I can't wait to see him play in person although killer Lee although missing an outside shot there is Swan so the lead is still 7 this is the shooter Corey Jones James with a follow I said he got up and down to court then he's shown a great passing ability goes for the block altered the shot and now ripping down the rebound is Travis you can just see it at once sequence the talent potential that he possesses the explosiveness but the Dru Joyce the coach said that they need to get into the open court they are not going to be successful st. Vincent st. Mary's in a half-court game against a physically superior bigger and older stronger and more mature Oak Hill team you know you mentioned Tom Fran and he did a great story about him as we're gonna watch the offensive rebound here look at James in good position with the score so he talks about his mom his mom at 16 had him by nineteen she had lost her mother her grandmother and she was on a roll and he went from one project to another I think this could be a great American dream man a great story here's a kid who has a love for his Bob and what a stroke of a pen could take care of his family for life I think that could be fantastic it weird that Schumann that's good paid by the word [Laughter] we've had some subs for both teams James who's still in there for eight-minute quarters in these high school games Swann from the wing knocks down to three and these kids from Oak Hill didn't really shoot it and considering there's only one player back from last year this is a whole new bunch of kids it's it speaks for their talent how well they look like they play together already when I meana they're getting a lot of people from other high school just played for three years because the may come racket them agrees it a petition stolen by granny leave guys can dump you know that could you do that bill with your kids when I played the dunk was illegal that's right and it made me a better basketball player it was illegal also for a while sinner and you're a Wizard of Westwood doesn't believe we should use the dog James now with four and the crowd is really an early brought them to their feet with this explosive dunk in transition finally an opportunity to show the elevation the windmill the creativity the extension the elevation he's a high riser there's no doubt about it he's got great hops I've talked to a lot of people including this morning Mike fratello for me to form an Cavs coach and I'm telling you everybody you saw that pass think that's where we had absolutely raved about his instincts and passing ability and we're not saying he's Magic Johnson and we're not saying he's Michael Jordan but that's the kind of descriptions I was receiving Magic Johnson passing ability as a youngster an extremely unselfish player again playing with three of his boyhood friends they've all grown up together went to high school together and he likes setting him up here's weaves for prey he assists but he did daddy was the 3d man he's role he got into the lane and he dished the rug bribed one dish the rock baby what is your plan basically still to try and negate the great ability of LeBron James I thought we got him pretty well early and he got some easy baskets late he transitioned off a turnover but we're trying to double him in the post he got down low on us one time in the first quarter and scored and trying to help as much as we can and got a quick guard on him up top and trying to pressure him as much as we can when he has the basketball coach you play against a guest and coach all the top players in high school basketball how do you rate LeBron James in a historic 11 year eighteen years as coach Oak Hill great shots I've seen a lot of great guys with coaches and great players I've seen the Grady in high school [Applause] kevin garnett and all those guys quarter heads Jerry Stackhouse myself and broad Mercer and he's the best I've seen at this stage and time will tell if he's probably will be coach thanks very much for the time good luck sure thank you Steve Smith the head coach at Oak Hill I'll tell you one thing what a record he's put together in his 18 years he took over for Larry Davis is now coaching Furman was originally as you watch of money offensive play on the interior I got what I bill I don't have two eyes like you but I'm watching about ten minutes here and if that kid doesn't have sparred I'm all over him there's only one guy that's going to stop him from being the star and his name is LeBron James dick let me ask you you brought up a point the only guy who could stop LeBron James who's LeBron James talked about what a 17 year old is going through outside influences having his head on straight like Steve Smith said how do you feel about all that [Applause] how many college guys or MBA guys to make that pass in transition he-yump yeah that's a jam for a dunk I mean I got goosebumps watching that that may be thinking of magic man are you kiddin take a look at that pass mr. Walton he seems to have overcome a sluggish start that's a great question you know he asked about stopping himself I think the biggest fear is he's got to be so concerned about the leeches and all the people around him and how to separate and get those out of his life and deal with those that genuinely belong and care about him because unfortunately bill he's going to have so many around him you know and I know we hear about exploitation and that worries me because there's a lot of that going on here people are ready now thinking of ways they can make money in an unsavory way off his teenager your feelings about that the choices he makes as to who his friends will be who his advisers will be and he has to go he is at the table he has to pick people who are already at the top and it would not looking to make it themselves on this young players capabilities I'd say the one thing I love about him any kid that speaks so unbelievably loving lovingly about his mom can't be a bad kid and all the other talks about us how I want to take care of my mom reminiscent to me of a friend I have but an imbalance Rodriguez who took care of his mom once he got the riches and fame as a baseball player here comes James leading the Irish out they were down big early but he has as we were talking about instincts feel for the game and he noticed he's so special bill the sense of where you are that we learn from Bill Bradley as a st. Louis high school phenom LeBron James is moving right now at a different speed than everyone else well he's doing what you said earlier he was not doing he has picked up the energy level and the energy level really hasn't been another gear and it's made us of the people benefit you know the bottom line is when you're special and aren't many guys in the NBA who make their teammates more efficient I think he has that full temper and you can sense the way he has looked at them right now they're rebounding better they're catching the ball better they're feeding off his energy and his enthusiasm and it's clicking right now for st. Vincent st. Mary and they have the lead over the previously undefeated number one hotel lawyers Oak Hill in black and st. Vincent st. Mary and gold James now with the ball where's number 23 he was the high scorer in the game on the first half to get a lot of help from Romeo Travis with nine points and eight rebounds Ivan Harris at 11 and seven Aledo kill James with a rebound and putback [Applause] offensive boards he's so quick to the interior though but I'm liking here is we're seeing a man playing amongst boys but the man is not a giant he's not a an overly tall player like a shaft or a Yao Ming he's six eight about 235 240 pounds I mean who knows what he projects out to in the NBA is he Awana two or three years he just do whatever he wants to but he's just the prior man he could play anywhere on a floor halftime with Jim O'Brien he said let me tell you dick he said this kid is for real he said I've seen him perform and we've seen that out here that was a great pass before by Marcus Williams going out to UConn look at this right here being the one-on-one the strength of the lower legs the explosiveness rarely do you find that the complete physical package in someone who's not 18 I'll tell you that's what you forget he's only 17 years old he was described to me by someone I'll let him remain anonymous he said he has the instincts of magic on the perimeter and the explosiveness of Michael Jordan that act is one heck of he said I'm not saying he's Michael and I must say these magic but that is what he possesses would you agree with that bill I'm seeing a lot of very positive thing led by LeBron James was taking charge on the bench as well James now his 23 points 11 already in just over four minutes in this quarter and his dick was saying James who has struggled with his outside shot now starting to go inside and he's just too big and too strong bill for the rest of these kids he's come alive here and he's find a way to get in the the open court transition here his teammates have picked up a little bit too that's given him some opportunities but you're seeing a man who's got finishing capabilities that you rarely see this polished a level and just such a young man that we're talking about umbilical incredible use words like that are you would like come on now let's assume he's going to the NBA because that's the assumption that I think every eligible to go to college well he does have the grades as in safety and it's only as safe he's not even making visits right now to coach Tommy Ohio State Florida Duke North Carolina but the family is reported there so there's a guy who Jim Cole prior but the family reportedly is talking to a gin said and not schools at this point let's bring JP Ellis and J let's assume that he goes to the NBA is he automatically going to be the first choice of the draft I think he will be the first choice and that there's a young man that is playing overseas in Yugoslavia right now an 18 year old left-hander named Darko Millicent it is possible he could be the first pick but I doubt it I think that LeBron James is the clear favorite to be the number one pick in the draft but it just shows you how much of a factor European players have to come I'll tell you something else J years and years ago before you were born there was something for the territorial draft right and they would love to have that all the talk shows who taught that about what are the chances that I'm keeping LeBron right right here with the Cavs for 19 a good start a no team in the last 12 years but the worst record in the NBA has won the lottery Wow the last player was Derrick Coleman with New Jersey in 1990 look at the way LeBron James floats over the wart look at the way he keeps his arms up this is just that man that's big-time his eyes never dropped look at his more great vision all the time great vision the ball is an extension of his mind he knows he's good he's got it I'll tell you right now my friends he's the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth no doubt about him being legit I only pray and I pray as I told him today I said please surround yourself with people that care 26 points now for LeBron James as he finally gets a three-ball to go down the only thing that you can't really predict what happens when you get the money there's whether he'll stay healthy and whether will continue the work ethic that he's shown to this yet yeah that's the one thing that drives the great ones like you said magic and Michael and Larry Bird yourself is the desire to be better to Lorne and when you are yesterday and that's why it can't really be about the money it has to be about that drive which is what Kobe Bryant has his drive to be the best that there is and the money ultimately comes which is less final possession of the quarter going for st. Vincent's say to Marian the ball in the hands of James he's inside he's outside he's rebounding he's scoring he's taken over the game here in the third quarter up at his high school levels a lot different than the level I've seen over the years great McGee get into tip Travis in there as well it's given to Travis as st. Vincent st. Mary's goes to the break up seven with just one quarter to go standing between them and a win over the number one ranked team I tell you kid like Travis is a very good active player he's going to act right as we watch him right now with the offensive tip there he is and they jump with joy st. Vincent st. Mary's the Fighting Irish but okay I think they play in eight states this year and their team there are ten kids on their team come from six different states they recruit better than a lot of college programs due to national program you know a lot of players recruit them as well yeah moves are active damage the play gets better competition Travis he's got 15 points and 11 rebounds tonight now going to Akron and coach damn brought the assistant via was the former head coach here look at him standing ovation now for st. Vincent's st. Mary's a commanding win in a very impressive performance especially in the second half against Oak Hill olio news get it inside James at the score any timing once it has been such a size advantage Dental Oak Hills only got two points in the fourth quarter LeBron and crowd is hungry yeah give it to the grunts Bret the floor let him go to the hoop the game is over it's academic now I'll tell you we were treated we were curious the curiosity really had me here with these stories yesterday on a front page story in USA Today I'm really really he has lived up to all the billing which is so difficult our infusion player of the game LeBron James that was not a hard pick he got my vote think of the numbers he would have had had the jump shot been falling in the first quarter but once he decided to go to the basket he just took over the game I think some people sometimes get away from this Sprint's they try to prove to everyone that they can shoot from the perimeter bottom line is he can get to the basket winning rights especially on a high school right but at the NBA level he's and I think you guys were talking about before the jump shots got to become a weapon he'll be able to yes he's gonna be playing with better people so people can't give him back the texture that he gets on a high school level but what you have to realize is that the better you get and he's already at the top but better you get the more you get knocked down yeah and he's gonna have to learn to protect himself because there's big strong mean nasty guys playing for the ultimate prize out there and they're gonna look at him and say hey what about me - what you asked him to do gendamal is gonna do the back the one said get the ball game of the rock baby he's gonna do his thing then he stole it out at the 2014 game for the show on how come you're not on speed dial with him on his phone he's got he's got Michael che he's got Maurice Clarett the great running back he doesn't have you on a bill I'm just happy to be here right I asked to be on this game I wanted to come and see and I and I have been it's been worth the trip up in Texas over I have enjoyed working with you big fella head dad it's been a lot of fun we've been Joan we've been going out of here since 5 o'clock with it up here fun and it's been a riot I'll tell you this you're always one of my favorites big fellas a player because you were unselfish and you were a winner I'll never forget 72 73 and when you went to 21 for 22 against Memphis Huntress that one shot that's what Coach wooden always want to know when you gave the speech to the team before the game I thought I was in church now they're going to clear the bench and James is going to come out of the game along with the rest of the starters with nine seconds to go water performance tonight not just by James the supporting cast also instrumental in a 20-point win over one of the best programs in the [Applause] Quran with all the hype going into this game playing against the number one team on national television did you feel a lot of pressure coming into this well you know you know it's a different game giver atmosphere today and today you know we planted number one team in the country and I don't think it was no pressure for our team I think it was more pressure for the fans you know to come in here you know we lost the last two years and we just wanted to come here and get a victory you know the cover of USA Today the cover of ESPN magazine last year on Sports Illustrated's cover what do you think is this too much or is it too much pressure for you well I think there's no pressure for me I think if I come out and play my game and get my team involved in the game you know it's a lot of notoriety for me and my teammates but I just go out play my game every night and give it our all and if we give it 110% like we did tonight nas no pressure for us your performance you came out it looked like you started slowly relied a little bit too much on the jump shot how did you calm yourself down well you know I halftime our team was telling me I need to go inside a little bit more cuz the player that was garmi had three files at halftime so I said you know anything it takes to win for our teammates they told me to get inside and I did that for our team and we came out with a victory what's next for you what what do you have to improve upon when do you want to take your game to the next level well you know it's all about just getting better every day you know of course you know defensive wise and get your jump shot better to perfection but it's just getting better every day for our team and for myself all right LeBron James with Jay Bilas well we saw on the court how about the interview skills he seems to have his head screwed on pretty straight out he's got charisma that goes with it that leads to marketability and if he smiles and he takes that game like magic and Jordan the cash register is gonna go Dingling thing because he will have unbelievable in terms of requests with all the enforcement's etc what a future he has but the way he played for fun tonight the joy the hope the optimism that you saw what poise what composure what confidence what competitive greatness this guy's got it what a night it was for LeBron James we hope you enjoyed it 31 points 13 rebounds six assists in a win 20-point win one of the number one ranked team in the country the Oak Hill Academy warrior thanks for watching ESPN on YouTube for live-streaming sports and premium content subscribe to ESPN Plus

Channel: ESPN Throwback

Views: 6,213,626

Rating: 4.8648963 out of 5

Keywords: lebron james, lebron james high school, lebron james high school highlights, lebron james highlights, lebron high school, lebron high school dunks, lebron high school highlights, lebron james vs oak hill, lebron james st vincent st mary, lebron james st vincent st mary highlights, lebron highlights, st vincent st mary vs oak hill, st vincent st mary, lebron, lebron james espn, lebron james interview, espn, espn live, nba, basketball, espn archive

Id: 2nC9z57MuaI

Length: 20min 46sec (1246 seconds)

Published: Sun Mar 22 2020

Reddit Comments

[u/FuckYouGod]

They were comparing him to MJ and Magic. It's still crazy to me that he actually met and surpassed expectations. That literally never happens.

[u/Untchj]

This game was the last thing I ever recorded on VHS.

I didn’t do it on purpose at the time, but it’s on the same tape as one of the last things I recorded before that: 98 finals game 6 Bull vs Jazz. Jordan’s last game as a Bull

[u/ThePillsburyPlougher]

Those are some truly ugly jerseys

[u/Jackthenerd20]

"He'll be playing with better people" spends 8 years on terrible cavs teams lmao

[u/matches_malone1047]

The warriors have been his enemy since high school. That's crazy

[u/Anal_Iverson]

Just crazy that they brought up how many leeches he'd come across in his life

[u/kenny10100]

The Chosen One

[u/camshoeman3]

Those tattoo coverings were the dumbest thing ever. Like now it just draws attention that he has tattoos were as u probably wouldn’t notice them as much without them

[u/KnickedUp]

This dude was insane