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

the best

high

school

player on the planet and the likely number one pick in next summer's NBA Draft. LeBron James takes his performance to the West Coast up a notch. St. Vincent Mary of Akron Ohio, ranked ninth in the country and undefeated on the season, takes on a

powerhouse

from Santa Ana, California, currently here at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles. Well, it's been a great season so far for LeBron James, of course, the game. on

espn

2 a few weeks ago, when they beat number one Oak Hill by 20 points, won in overtime against number six Brookhaven of Columbus over the Christmas break and now they are here on the west coast to take on today, we have a couple from guys who have seen LeBron James in person, let's get their take on what we'll see tonight and yes, this is the same guy who was doing an NBA game on ABC in Dallas today, thanks for coming.

I know. some loyalty 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 closely since we saw him a few weeks ago. What have you learned about him? the last few weeks Dan, in those three weeks, the most impressive thing to me is that the closer we look, the better this guy looks, he has the absolutely complete package, his ability to make his

team

mates the start of the game, delivering the ball. the brand and when things break down you can shake and bake create your own shot incomparable athleticism LeBron James has been in the spotlight for quite some time but now he finds himself on the biggest stage with a huge crowd here basketball eyes the story of Southern California basketball here to see how good this guy is, you won't leave disappointed, this guy is unique, special and we are privileged to be here today with a full house here at Pauley Pavilion, a former star of the

school

Southern California High School.

He said man, this is different from what he used to play, so he didn't get 12,000 for the games from him. Jay Bilas, what specific part of LeBron James' game impresses you the most? Bill Walton talked about the complete package that LeBron James has, but I. What impresses me the most is his ability to pass the ball. Coaches will tell you that they can teach a player how to pass, but they can't teach him how to see. LeBron James can and does see the entire court. He can move forward. He knows what he is. the right pass to make in the course of a game, he doesn't pass it to be flashy, he passes because it's the right play and when you look at players like Kobe Bryant in

high

school, Bryant had the same skill level as LeBron James, he It was not.

He had a pretty imposing physical presence and couldn't pass in the same way that LeBron James can pass. He is really special. I want to know how a Southern California kid like you didn't get to UCLA. Well, they didn't recruit me enough. That's what Joyce was. puts the runner no good gets the rebound and Cory Jones knocks one down from the baseline that's the point that needs to be made about this st. Saint Vincent Mary's Team, it's not LeBron James for kids who can't play basketball, the other kids are pretty good too. Shayne loses control and regains it. he misses a short and puts it back on the block to Romeo Travis, as if he noticed the absence of Sean Cotton on the ball.

The player anchoring his presence will really be a big factor here, leave it to st. Mary undefeated on the season without him there a different day, will play in a high school football game tomorrow another miss for James the botanist is 6-4, the 290 pound defensive tackle approaches the strawberry, he has blocked it when Romeo travis is really active player on a big offensive rebound, here's James, early show time for LeBron James and a little more on that, but it was still the right play, the past behind an open man and a violation of Five seconds, the press quickly electrifies this crowd, the buzz. is still happening and this is a city that has seen phenomenal passes from Walt Hazzard to Greg Lee to Magic Johnson Kobe Bryant Shaquille O'Neal Kareem abdul-jabbar and now LeBron James leaving the dime and Gary McKnight not too worried about the pass behind wonders where all the red shirts return in the transition defense Joyce misses the three now exhausted for today and Marcel Jones' slam is 611 six seven quite junior, that's where

mater

Dave can score a lot of points, he's in transition.

They are a

team

that likes to run, they won the offense on the move when they get to a half-court set, but they want to get the ball quickly up the court and score. They do not take a secondary rest. They want to write down their initial. Yeah, as long as he doesn't touch now, you can do that like Garrity again, boy, he's not shy about getting in the paint, that's what he does, he's a penetrator, he's working on his perimeter shot and as a sophomore year, is getting a lot of attention in recruiting. and he's going to win right now, he's one of the best sophomores in California, but he has a chance to be one of the best point guards in America.

Jones, the LOB in, and LeBron James has his first two points of the game in Cleveland that What he did was the breakaway dunk that was the spark for LeBron James Washington with a little bit of a spark on the other end right now. Saint Vincent Mary's definitely needs a transition defensive line jumper which was not good by Travis and it has been a shot and out for Saint Vincent st. Mary's and that's why they beat Oak Hill, their offensive rebound was almost stolen by James Jones who falls to the ground, but the Monarchs recover it and will call a timeout tied at 13 early in the second quarter with Bill Walton and Jeff Ellis.

I'm pretty sure, look Ron James, it looked like DJ Strawberry relaxed a little bit when that pass came instead of being down in a stance, he stood up and James made the most of it and Shayne a little late to move on 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 once he the defense commits this guy's play. I got it, man against guys, seven points for James, let me ask you guys, we've seen it twice and it seems obvious that his ability to get to the basket right now holds up the runs, his ability to shoot the long jumper, so Jay, why?

I think come on, why do you think he set up the long jump shots in the two games we've seen? Well, one is a little sexier. I think jump shots instead of taking the ball to the basket every time and because people I've talked about it myself, including that that's something he needs to work on and it's not the best thing he does. I think he tends to overcompensate and tries to prove that he can do it. Thanks Jay. I play in the center. I would say get it. in the post you're the biggest guy there, you're the strongest guy there and you play like Magic Johnson used to play and you play like you used to play when you had the ball in you, people could block you and you're a great passer and they really revolutionized the game like a great man.

Yeah, I remember saying this to Dan Shulman today and I'm not just saying it because you would be here if you didn't get hurt as a pro. I think we would see a different game. Now that we see one where the big man is deployed more as a passer and more skilled player right now we don't see that. I think it's a shame, well big men want to play on the perimeter like you pointed out LeBron's ability. James scoring that shot with a soft touch just encourages the wilder play that we saw early on and he's going to be a good shooter and the reason I say that I don't think he's going to be a great shooter now, but he's going to do it.

He will be a really consistent shooter in the future because he shoots the ball with ease. His mechanics are good. He'll refine that shot. I think he has all the tools to connect sugar levels. Don't you think Ricci's pay scale may tend to chase? some kids leave school early simply because they want the clock to start ticking on their second third contract, which is a gigantic mistake on their part, right James to Joyce for three, you have to get James and Joyce to put the ball up. on the court the same with Jones if they don't put him on the court they will knock down shots all day Garrity will go to the basket all day but how about this st.

St. Vincent Mary's team, this team comes out and looks so bad that it would be opening moments and now they're just hitting and today at Mater Dei was clearly the better team with the first eight minutes of this ball game, well, it's They have calmed down a bit. a little bit and also what they've done is spread the floor a little bit more and they've made better use of LeBron James who does it everywhere look here on defense with Harrison Schoen I mean this guy is a good jumper Harrison Shayne taking the ball to the basket and James placing it on the seats with his left hand and on the way down the body controls many of the players that we have in the game today at all levels, they could only play with their athletic abilities, what?

TRUE? really has a basketball game if he couldn't run fast or jump high we would still be talking about this guy he is an excellent basketball player but we put the physical, mental, spiritual and psychological package together a guy who loves to be the center of attention . We have a gift waiting for us for many years and he has not yet been systematized and by this I mean that he has not been paid in a position where someone says hey son, you are a power forward, come in and it's fine, he is a player and has learned how. play instead of how to play a position, thank goodness, but there are 5,000 fans of the games and losing names like Northern Arizona, so they got a big win today against Washington State Kapono with 44 points, that is now known as a big victory.

It was strawberry by the way the 15 foot jump shot has five here is James look at the work DJ drummer yes LeBron James working hard now leads the break however turn it around and the Irish will have another chance here it is James to the basket. Also Dan when he comes as a defensive player. I loved when the boys attacked you and my favorite was when dr. J or David Thompson Michael Jordan those guys would just come at you and you would just live for those one on one confrontations this guy is coming right at you you don't have a wife here that ability to stop start exploding stick it in your legs what is that supposed to be ? to do as a defender, let's find out what they do with him here, he has his shot when he wants and knocks it down and James, who only scored two in the first quarter, has 13 here, in the second quarter he will need the rule of the LeBron days. how to heat best way to smoke that is the experience we have had both times the first tab comes to an end.

Saint Vincent Mary, led by LeBron James, has half of his team's points with a 32:24 lead over Mater Dei, ranked number four in the country, a guy who is going to erase some records along the way. LeBron James again got off to a very slow start in the first. fourth, but a great second quarter as he started to take over the game. LeBron James isn't going after a predictably slow start and I just don't like the way they approach these first quarters of these games, but LeBron James gave them the all-time game. show how we completely anticipate going to the left so difficult to do show the soft touch the creativity the imagination the defense the rebound it's all there and Phil, how many times at all levels of basketball do you see when a bad shot is taken and even though en It was a small shot by James that was a bad shot, the other team falls, chose the three for the universal majority and now hands the monarchs on the move.

Nelson stops and misses the bench. Good job on that moment. Goal by Chris Manly. running around the field joy snow to calm things down a little his coach his father may be the partial fold of st.'s heart and soul. Saint Vincent Mary: Said LeBron James was obviously the better player, but everyone's happy, he likes the road to something that really helped him set the pace when they need a basket right now, they're doing the modern defense move before 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's not there that's a horrible horrible Jones for three on the other end but how was that guard ?

It's almost like all three were waiting for one of the other two to blow the whistle. Levante Nelson for three left it short and James' rebound beautiful bounce pass from then on and reverse layup they just make the right play over and over again when He has the ball J, how's the skill? oh there's nowhere to play the long bounce that was crazy now those guys saw the play before anyone else with this Henry in and it came back to 12 and a good job by Henry to catch it and explode right away and not allow the block When you look the stuff, it's amazing when you look at the ten players on the court, how physically more mature LeBron is, how that happens and what's going to happen when he's there when everyone else has the samephysical maturity, well, if he goes to the NBA. and he becomes the first pick, presumably replaces a goalie on a Horace team, so he becomes the starter right away and has to travel more and play more minutes and play against stronger people and what kind of transition do you see? let it be done.

It will always be difficult for his teammates to be so determined about how successful he will ultimately be. Remember there were worms on the screen. He was playing with Murray. His work ethic. I think he will determine a lot of his Drive. It is different for each player. What's up! talked about the pass at the beginning and, speaking of work ethic, making that pass instead of grooming, runs back strawberry transition defense is still covering James there James makes his first field goal of the second half and gets inside the ball reversal is open for a left layup that's where he needs to be a little more now here's James it's a five on two James will take it himself he continues his mess and again he doesn't wave it over LeBron James's back on his comeback times that are running out today is LeBron James in Santa Vincent Santa Maria of Akron Ohio remain undefeated get their third win over a top 10 team Already this season, their record of two eight no and they really didn't look at it seriously threatened and pointed out the moves of the game, which is generally the most important picture that can be achieved here tonight, they are a force on the national ranked scene.

Ranked 23rd at the start of the season, they are now in ninth place and with wins last week over number six and number four, they are sure to move up USA Today's super 25 rankings. They are also a strength of the business. The decision page is not the truth is not the truth has been on the cover of so many magazines and newspapers on national television, we believe he is on his way to the NBA and is the likely number one overall pick and LeBron James. will become a household name if not already Perry very soon again the final score here in a poly feeling in Santa Mary's 64 today 58 LeBron James takes his team another way thanks for watching ESPN on YouTube to stream live sports and premium content subscribe to ESPN Plus