An early entry candidate for the 2003 NBA Draft. Consensus 2003 National High School Player of the Year. Named PARADE High School Boys Basketball Player of the Year for the second consecutive season as a senior, becoming the first repeat winner in the 47-year history of the award. Named USA Today boys' high school basketball Player of the Year following junior and senior seasons. Named Gatorade Player of the Year as a junior and senior.

High School Career Highlights: Led St. Vincent-St. Mary (SVSM) to three state championships in four seasons. Named Mr. Basketball for the state of Ohio by AP for three straight seasons beginning with sophomore year. Named to USA Today All-USA First Team for three consecutive seasons beginning with sophomore season. Posted four-year high school career totals of 2,657 points, 892 rebounds and 523 assists.

2003 Postseason All-Star Games: Named MVP of McDonald's High School All-American Game, the EA Sports Roundball Classic and the Jordan Capital Classic. In the McDonald's Game, led East to 122-107 victory with 27 points, seven rebounds and seven assists. In the Roundball Classic, led West to 120-119 victory with 28 points, six rebounds and five assists, hitting game-winning jump shot with 25 seconds remaining. In the Capital Classic, scored 34 points and added 12 rebounds and six assists as his Black team dropped a 107-102 decision to the Silver Team.

Senior (2002-03): Led team to 25-1 record and mythical high school national championship as selected by USA Today. The only loss was the forfeit of a game SVSM actually won. Scored 25 points and added 11 rebounds as SVSM defeated Kettering Alter 40-36 in Columbus, Ohio, on March 22 to capture its third state title in four seasons. Averaged 31.6 points, 9.6 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 3.4 steals. Scored 31 points and added 13 rebounds and six assists in win over Oak Hill Academy as SVSM assumed the top national ranking. Scored 52 points against Westchester High School of Los Angeles, hitting 21-of-35 shots from the field. Broke left (non-shooting) wrist in an AAU basketball game during the summer of 2002.

Junior (2001-02): Finished 23-4 and as runner-up for state championship. SVSM lost Division II state title to Roger Bacon of Cincinnati, 71-63. Averaged 29.0 points, 8.3 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 3.3 steals. Broke index finger on left hand playing high school football prior to basketball season. Helped lead football team to state semifinals.

Sophomore (2000-01): Led team to 26-1 record and Division III state title for second straight season. Defeated Miami East (Casstown) 63-53 in championship game. Team finished fifth in USA Today Super 25 rankings. Became first sophomore player ever chosen for USA Today All-USA First Team. Averaged 25.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 3.8 steals. Named First Team all-state in football as a wide receiver.

Freshman (1999-00): Led team to 27-0 record and Division III state title. Defeated Greenview (Jamestown) 73-55 in championship game. Tallied 25 points, nine rebounds and four assists in title game. Averaged 18 points and six rebounds for the season.

Strengths: Best attribute is his ability to make the correct pass with flair. Excellent strength and body control. His size and versatility allow him to play multiple positions. Coaches and teammates praise his unselfishness.

Personal: Loved to play high school football before giving it up to concentrate on basketball. Shares December 30th birthday with Tiger Woods. Considers Michael Jordan his role model and wears the number 23.

Two nights before 1985 became official, lebron james was born in Akron, Ohio. There was no silver spoon in his mouth when he entered the world on December 30, 1984. lebron james grew up without a father. The lone dominant figurehead in his family was, and still is to this day, his mother, Gloria. As a child, lebron james and Gloria were always on the move, forced to depart one dwelling for another due to financial troubles.

It was not uncommon for Gloria, who was 16 when her son was born, to leave her young boy with other families. She has admitted that lebron james saw things as a child that children should never see, like living in a condemned home for a while when lebron james was 4 or 5 years of age. When Gloria's parents and grandparents died, lebron james and his mother had nowhere else to turn.

But people stepped in to help. Gloria and lebron james met the Walker family in West Akron, Ohio, and every Thanksgiving -- even today, when money is no longer a major issue -- lebron james and his mother spend the holiday there.

After all, the Walkers took a fifth-grade lebron james in when he needed it the most. Living with the family of five became a pivotal time in lebron james' rearing from child to young man, while his mother was trying to get her life together.

The day that changed lebron james' life forever came in the fall of 1994. One afternoon, Frank Walker, the patriarch of the family, put a basketball in the hands of a then 9-year-old lebron james for the first time. Walker spent his time teaching the youngster the game during the next three years.

The next step in lebron james' basketball training arrived when he met Dru Joyce II, who coached the youngster to an amateur national championship at the age of 14 -- the same year he dunked with two hands for the first time. Joyce II became lebron james' basketball mentor and coach from then on.

Dru Joyce II and the Walkers enforced the importance of school to lebron james, and amid all the glitz and glamour during his junior and senior years at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School, lebron james still held a solid 3.5 grade point average. By high school, lebron james was the real thing. Three state championships and a silver medal in four years with the Irish. National television. Big-time deals. And big-time money.

Aside from his mother and uncles, lebron james is close to those who have helped him along the way: the Walkers, Joyce II, Lee and Debra Cotton, former teammate Maverick Carter, as well as some other teammates from the 2003 campaign.

"I've got this inner circle," lebron james said. "I've had it for years. And if you haven't been in the circle since Day One, you're never going to be in it. There are always people who want to get in the circle, and if you let them, they will break it up."

How important is this group, and more importantly, lebron james' relationship with his mother? She wears a jersey with the words "LeBron's Mom" on its back. He has her name tattooed on his biceps. She still refers to him as "my baby" or "Bron-Bron." He calls her the most significant person in his life.

Gloria was there when lebron james won Ohio state championships as a freshman, junior and senior. She was there when lebron james scored 52 points, in a stunning effort against Westchester (of Los Angeles, California) on February 8, 2003 -- his highest point total ever.

For his 18th birthday, Gloria bought lebron james a Hummer -- one of many amazing rides lebron james will be driving throughout his career. All of these influences helped lebron james become the future legend that the basketball world is raving about today.

May 2003 was a crucial month for lebron james and his burgeoning professional career. With Aaron Goodwin as his agent, lebron james's endorsement deal with Nike (to the tune of seven years and $90 million US) was inked on May 22, 2003, adding to his card deal with Upper Deck, making lebron james a $100 million man before graduation.

Also on May 22, it was announced that the Cleveland Cavaliers won the NBA draft lottery, meaning the boy who grew up mere miles from Gund Arena will begin his pro career playing in his home state.

"I'm now in Cleveland and I'm real excited," he said after the Cavs won the No. 1 pick, the same night he promised to buy his mother a new house and was sure not to promise a championship early on in his stint with Cleveland; the Cavaliers, after all, are hoping for a revitalization to their basketball franchise after earning the right to draft lebron james.

"I will guarantee we'll get better every day," lebron james has assured Cavaliers fans, which celebrated lebron james coming to their city as if they had just won a championship. "I just want to win."

lebron james isn't the first high schooler to jump to the NBA, but he may be the best. He already possesses the body and skills of an All-Star, and a basketball IQ that is nothing short of astonishing. Some say lebron james's making a mistake; a kid with his smarts should develop his mind and his game in college. Others say forget the degree; he'll be able to buy his own school some day. Only lebron james can settle the debate. This is his story.

lebron james was born on December 30, 1984, in Akron, Ohio. His mother, Gloria James, was only 16 at the time. His biological father, Anthony McClelland, was an ex-con uninterested in being a parent. Gloria raised lebron james on her own, and to this day he goes by her last name.

Life was often a struggle for lebron james and his mother. Gloria battled personal problems during much of his childhood. Some of those were brought on by the death of her mother, who passed away when lebron james was an infant. Bouncing between retail and accounting jobs, Gloria was never able to land steady work, and she and lebron james moved from apartment to apartment. The pair got to know all the seedier neighborhoods of Akron, a city of more than 200,000 located less than a hour south of Cleveland.

Despite her failings, Gloria worked hard to be a loving mother and shield lebron james from the poverty and violence of the streets. This was no easy chore, and at times made her choice of boyfriends seem puzzling. When lebron james was two, she started dating Eddie Jackson. In and out of trouble with the law, he went to prison in 1990 for aggravated cocaine trafficking. (In 2002, he pled guilty to mortgage fraud and mail fraud.) Nevertheless lebron james formed a bond with Jackson, and Gloria liked having a man around who was willing to serve as a father figure. Her brothers, Terry and Curt, also helped out.

From an early age, lebron james showed tremendous instincts for basketball. Gloria gave him a miniature hoop and ball when he was an infant, and he amused himself for hours each day with the toys. lebron james also had the genes necessary to spawn a long-limbed basketball phenom. Though Gloria stands only 5-5, she has relatives who are much taller.

The strain of the Jameses' nomadic lifestyle began to take its toll when lebron james entered elementary school. Embarrassed by his home life, he didn't make friends easily. And thought he wanted to do well in school, focusing on his studies was difficult. He found an outlet for his emotions and intelligence in sports. Basketball and football were his favorites. By now lebron james had developed into a superb athlete. In addition to his natural speed, quickness and strength, he could think his way around the court or gridiron. His hero was Michael Jordan, and he patterned his hoops game after his idol's. lebron james liked taking it to the hole, as well as launching jumpers, but he took a special delight in distributing the basketball to his teammates.

In football, lebron james usually played receiver. He scored 19 touchdowns in six games in his first year of Pee Wee football. His coach was Frankie Walker, a man who would soon have a profound effect on his life. After the season ended, Walker began hearing stories that his young star, now a fourth-grader, was missing school on a regular basis. He soon discovered that lebron james had all but dropped out. Walker confronted Gloria, who admitted that her son needed a more stable living environment. They agreed that Lebron should move in with Walker and his family.

lebron james quickly took to his new surroundings. Walker and his wife, Pam, had three kids, Chanelle, Frankie Jr. and Tanesha. Everyone in the household, including lebron james, was responsible for daily chores. The structure did wonders for him. As a fifth grader, he received his school's attendance award.

Walker also had a positive impact on Lebron's basketball. Among other things, he taught the youngster how to shoot with his left hand.

After 18 months of living separately from her son, Gloria took him back. But when financial problems arose, lebron james returned to the Walkers. Eventually they worked out an arrangement to help Gloria pay her rent. Walker and his wife wanted to ensure that lebron james always had a place in the Akron area he could call home.

For lebron james, another advantage of living with the Walkers was his friendship with Frankie Jr. The two ran with four other boys-Sian Cotton, Dru Joyce III, Willie McGee and Romeo Travis. Together they formed a terrific team on the basketball court. On Sunday nights they gathered at the Akron Jewish Community Center, where Keith Drambot, the former head coach at Central Michigan University, put them through their paces.

lebron james and Dru, who played point guard, became extremely close friends. In fact, when lebron james was 12, he spent most of that summer living with Joyce's family.

It didn't take long for lebron james and his crew to gain recognition around Akron. They learned the fundamentals of basketball from Drambot and developed tremendous chemistry with one another. Literally and figuratively, lebron james was head-and-shoulders above his friends. By the eighth grade he was six feet tall, could play all five positions and had a sixth sense for the game.

Calling themselves the Northeast Ohio Shooting Stars, lebron james and his pals-coached by Joyce's father-made a splash on the national scene in 1997 by qualifying for the Under/6th Grade AAU National Championships in Salt Lake City, Utah. Two years later they went all the way to the AAU Under/8th Grade final, in Orlando, Florida. The Shooting Stars won their first five games to set up a showdown with the Southern California All-Stars. They lost a heartbreaker, 68-66, but lebron james was the big story with his sparkling play.

By then lebron james, Joyce, Cotton and McGee-the self-proclaimed "Fab Four"-had arrived at a decision. They were a package deal, and pledged to continue their hoops careers together. The foursome settled on Saint Vincent-Saint Mary High School, a parochial school in downtown Akron. Best known for its tradition of academic excellence, SVSM was about to establish a new legacy, with lebron james leading the way.

Before he hit the hardwood, lebron james buckled up his chin strap as a wideout for SVSM football coach Jay Brophy, a former NFL linebacker who spent time with the Miami Dolphins and New York Jets. The freshman made his varsity basketball debut weeks later on December 3, earning a spot in the Fighting Irish starting backcourt. The decision to go with lebron james was an easy one for Keith Drambot, who had recently been hired as SVSM's coach. Wearing Jordan's number 23, lebron james, now 6-3, contributed 15 points in a blowout over parochial rival Cuyahoga Falls.

With lebron james and Maverick Carter (his cousin and an all-state senior) headlining a talented team, the Fighting Irish posted a perfect 27-0 record and captured the state championship, the school's first since 1984. lebron james averaged just under 20 points, shot better than 50 percent from the field and was among the team leaders in rebounds, assists and steals. His instincts were amazing considering his age, and he demonstrated that intangible quality of making everyone else on the court better. Rumor had it that IMG, the Cleveland-based representation firm, was already putting out feelers to him.

The summer after his freshman season saw lebron james continue to improve. But the biggest change came off the court, where he grew nearly four inches, to 6-7. lebron james now looked more like a man than a boy.

lebron james played another year of football at SVSM in the fall of 2000, racking up more than 700 yards receiving. He was named All-Ohio, but the Fighting Irish finished at a disappointing 4-6.

As lebron james prepared for the basketball season, word began to spread that SVSM had a bona fide phenom on its hands. Expecting a huge crowd for their 2000-01 season opener, the Fighting Irish scheduled the game at the University of Akron's James A. Rhodes Arena. Some 5,000 fans packed the house. lebron james paced SVSM to an easy victory, and the team rolled from there.

The Fighting Irish faced their stiffest test against Oak Hill Academy during a tournament in January. The Warriors-led by center DeSagna Diop and swingman Rashaad Carruth-were the nation's top-ranked prep squad. lebron james and his teammates entered the contest undefeated. In a classic, Oak Hill barely hung on for a 79-78 victory. But in what was becoming a habit, lebron james stole the show. With a small army of NBA and college scouts in attendance, he torched the Warriors for 33 points, nailing bombs from beyond the 3-point arc, hitting on leaners in the lane and finishing the break with rim-rattling dunks. lebron james actually could have won it for SVSM, but he missed a pair of free throws late in the fourth quarter and his desperation jumper at the buzzer rimmed out.

The Fighting Irish rebounded from the defeat in impressive fashion. They ran the table the rest of the regular season, then stormed through the state playoffs for their second straight title. The final, played at Ohio State's Jerome Schottenstein Center, attracted a sellout crowd of more than 17,000, including North Carolina head coach Matt Doherty and California head coach Ben Braun. lebron james, who poured in 54 points in his team's two playoff wins, was a no-brainer as tournament MVP.

For the year lebron james averaged 25.3 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 5.5 assists. He also increased his proficiency from downtown, connecting on 39 percent of his treys. Named an All-American (along with the likes of Eddie Curry and Kwame Brown), lebron james became the first sophomore in Ohio history to be voted the state's Mr. Basketball.

lebron james began the summer after his sophomore year in Colorado Springs at the USA Basketball Development Festival. The first underclassman ever invited to the camp, he broke the festival scoring record with 120 points in five games and was named MVP.

At his next stop, adidas's ABCD Camp at Fairleigh-Dickinson University in New Jersey, lebron james officially arrived on the national scene. Going into the week, the player attracting the most attention was Lenny Cooke, a 6-8 forward from New York.

Cooke, who was planning to enter the NBA draft, was completely overshadowed by lebron james, who took control of the camp. With a camera crew from ESPN's "The Life" following his every move and college and pro scouts looking on, he flashed his full offensive arsenal and played suffocating defense. But what blew away everyone were lebron james's passing skills. Up until this point, most had labeled him the next Jordan. Now comparisons to Magic Johnson started.

Still, at times during the camp, lebron james seemed almost bored by the competition, and his focus wavered. It was when challenged that he shone brightest. He first turned heads in a featured game for underclassmen. The contest's MVP, he tallied 22 points, seven assists and four rebounds. Later he matched up against Cooke in a showdown anticipated by everyone at the camp. Cooke tried to set the tone on an early possession, dribbling between his legs several times before nailing a 3-pointer. But lebron james got the last laugh. He hit for 24 points, held Cooke to just nine, and drilled a 25-footer at the buzzer to deliver a last-second victory.

After the ABCD camp, a rumor-floated in The New York Times and helped along a little by lebron james-surfaced that he was thinking of declaring himself eligible for the NBA draft after his junior season at SVSM. While he eventually denied the claim, it contributed to the growing legend of "King James." After running a feature on the 16-year-old, SLAM recruited him to pen a regular column for the hip-hop hoops magazine.

Meanwhile, Michael Jordan invited lebron james to join him in an exclusive workout, where he scrimmaged against the likes of Antoine Walker, Michael Finley, Juwan Howard and Penny Hardaway. lebron james struck up a friendship with Walker, a product of Chicago's Mt. Carmel basketball factory, and still counts him among his most trusted advisors.

When lebron james returned home, he strapped on the pads for his junior year of football. Gloria was opposed to the idea, afraid he might get injured and jeopardize his hoops career. But lebron james persisted. After sitting out the opener, he hauled in three scoring passes a week later. Despite a steady dose of double-coverage, lebron james wound up with 52 receptions for more than 1,000 yards and 15 touchdowns. SVSM, meanwhile, experienced a tremendous turnaround, going 7-3 and qualifying for the state playoffs. In the Fighting Irish's first post-season game, a 28-20 victory, lebron james fractured the index finger on his left hand. He chose to keep the injury quiet and take the field for the state final. SVSM lost, and lebron james suspected he had likely played his last football game.

The junior immediately turned his attention to the hardwood. By now speculation about his future was running rampant. With a solid B average, he would probably have his choice of colleges. On his short list were Cal, Florida, Michigan, Ohio State, North Carolina and Duke. But many questioned whether lebron james was really considering college. Though a good student, he was a basketball player first and foremost. And with the hype around him building, he was being exposed more and more to the trappings of life as a pro. Eddie Jackson raised eyebrows by buying him a Ford Explorer. His name appeared in newspaper headlines across the nation. Nike and adidas were in a fierce battle to sign him. Reports said the final offer could reach $20 million.

Against this backdrop, lebron james began his junior basketball season. In as coach for SVSM was Dru Joyce, the father of lebron james's best friend and the team's point guard. The Fighting Irish faced one of the toughest schedules in the country. Indeed, nearly half of the school's opponents were ranked nationally. lebron james and his teammates opened against Germantown (Pa.) Academy, which featured a pair of stars, Lee Melchionni and Matt Walsh. Thanks to lebron james's 38 points and 17 rebounds, SVSM won 70-64. Next, at the JAR Arena, the Fighting Irish registered a 49-41 victory over Vashon of St. Louis and their shifty point guard, Jimmy McKinney. lebron james led the way with 26 points.

SVSM rode the momentum from those victories into the Slam Dunk to the Beach, a Christmas tournament held in Delaware. There the Fighting Irish fell for the first time, an 84-83 loss to Amityville of New York. lebron james almost gave his team a dramatic win with a four-point play near the end of regulation. But Amityville followed with two free throws to seize the lead for good. Weeks later, in a game against local rival Brush, lebron james felt like he was back on the gridiron. Roy Hall, a well muscled guard headed to Ohio State on a football scholarship, bodied him all over the court. lebron james responded with a grinding defensive effort, limiting Hall to eight points in an easy victory.

In February SVSM suffered its first two-game losing streak since lebron james joined the team. The first defeat came in a highly anticipated rematch with Oak Hill, at the Prime Time Shootout in Trenton, NJ. Though lebron james sizzled with 36 points, it wasn't enough to overcome the Warriors and their top gun, Carmelo Anthony, who poured in 34. The Fighting Irish were beaten again a week later by George Junior Republic of Pennsylvania.

The pair of losses did nothing to diminish lebron james's reputation. Kobe Bryant, hoping to lure the teenager to adidas, gave him a special pair of sneakers decorated with American flags. While in Cleveland to play the Cavs, Shaquille O'Neal caught one of lebron james's games at the JAR Arena.

The Fighting Irish, meanwhile, embarked on a new winning streak that fueled another run to the state final. In front of 20,000 screaming fans on the Ohio State campus, however, they failed in their quest for three titles in a row, losing 71-63 to Roger Bacon of Cincinnati. lebron james, who battled back spasms all night long, wasn't at his best, and his teammates were unable to pick up the slack.

lebron james finished the year averaging 28 points, six assists and just under nine rebounds. An All-American on everybody's list, he was named National Player of the Year by Gatorade, USA Today and Parade Magazine . But lebron james wasn't completely satisfied with his season. His greatest cause for concern was the drop in his 3-point shooting (34%) and free throws (59.3%). He resolved to spend extra time in the gym working on both areas.

Among those who believed lebron james's game didn't need much tinkering was Cavaliers coach John Lucas. He had seen him in an AAU tournament the previous summer, and got to know him personally because lebron james often hung out at Cleveland's Gund Arena. Ignoring NBA rules, Lucas invited the 17-year-old to an informal workout with the Cavs. lebron james impressed with dunks over Jumaine Jones and Chris Mihm, but again it was his ability to see the court and make pinpoint passes that attracted the most oohs and aahs.

The practice session earned Lucas a $150,000 fine from the NBA and got him suspended for two games. But he felt he got off cheap. Watching lebron james up close and personal was more than worth the penalties handed down by the league.

lebron james had plans for a full summer of hoops, but was sidelined after breaking his left wrist in an AAU game. He still made the rounds at all the major camps-and displayed a devilish sense of humor when he showed up at adidas's ABCD wearing a pair of Nikes, then donned adidas shoes for the Nike All-American! During his downtime, lebron james worked on his endurance with a personal trainer. He also reflected on how much basketball meant to him. When he returned to the court, friends and family noticed a fresh bounce in his step.

They also noticed the circus the teenager's life had become-not that everyone, including lebron james, wasn't participating in the spectacle. SVSM struck a deal to broadcast all 10 of its home games throughout northeast Ohio on pay-per-view at $7.95 a pop. ESPN2 agreed to televise the school's December contest against Oak Hill. Season-ticket packages for the Fighting Irish at the JAR Arena soared to $125.

At this stage of the game. it was becoming rather obvious to just about everyone who knew lebron james that he would soon be playing in the NBA-and probably bypass college. Eager to maximize her son's earning potential, Gloria enlisted Eddie Jackson to assume full control of "Team LeBron." They took meetings with all comers, fielding offers that promised to make lebron james a millionaire several times over. The competition between adidas and Nike also heated up. Word was that lebron james's asking price was up to $25 million.

The Fighting Irish opened the 2002-03 season after Thanksgiving, at home against Wellston. With 2,000 spectators crammed into the SVSM gym, lebron james led his team to a a 46-10 lead before a storm literally turned out the lights on the game. The following night, the Fighting Irish exacted their revenge against George Junior Republic, employing a devastating full-court press that keyed a 101-40 blowout. lebron james was fantastic, posting 21 points, 14 rebounds, seven assists and four steals.

Less than two weeks later SVSM registered another satisfying victory, defeating Oak Hill 65-45. With Dick Vitale and Bill Walton doing the game for ESPN2, lebron james enjoyed another big night, going for 31 points and 13 rebounds. A staggering 1.67 million households tuned into the contest.

SVSM won four more before lebron james's birthday in December. Among those who wished a happy 18th to him were Allen Iverson and Jerome Bettis. But problems soon developed. To celebrate her son's birthday, Gloria secured a bank loan and bought him a Hummer H2 (base price $50,000), complete with three televisions. The gift caused a huge controversy. SVSM and the Ohio High School Athletic Association considered suspending lebron james. The media, meanwhile, launched a national debate that questioned him, his mother and the wisdom of foregoing college for the riches of the NBA.

lebron james and the Fighting Irish, however, kept right on chugging. SVSM traveled to Los Angeles to square off at UCLA's Pauley Pavilion against Mater Dei High School, in another ESPN2 broadcast. Billed as a matchup between lebron james and D.J. Strawberry, a forward headed for Maryland and the son of former big-league slugger Darryl Strawberry. In an entertaining game, the Fighting Irish won 64-58. Though he missed all nine of his 3-point attempts, lebron james still managed to score 24.

A month later lebron james found himself in hot water again, this time for accepting two retro NBA jerseys worth $845 from a sports store. The OHSAA acted with little hesitation and rescinded his eligibility. But lebron james fired back, hiring lawyer Fred Nance to get the ban lifted. Nance requested an injunction in the Summit County Common Pleas Court, and judge James R. Williams ultimately reinstated lebron james. The ruling came just in time for him to play in the Prime Time Shoot Out in Trenton. He showed no ill-affects from the legal tussle, scoring 52 points in a 78-52 shellacking of West Chester of Los Angeles.

The entire episode grabbed national headlines. People who had never heard of lebron james-indeed, people who had no interest in high school hoops-suddenly were familiar with the details of his life. It was at this moment that the 18-year-old transcended his sport and passed into the realm of popular culture.

From there lebron james tried to concentrate on basketball, and did a pretty good job of it. SVSM entered the state playoffs with just one loss, then returned to the Division II final against Kettering Alter. In front of a tournament-record 18,454 fans at Ohio State's Value City Arena, the Irish held a slight lead heading into the fourth quarter. That's when lebron james took over-he scored his team's first nine points of the final stanza to spark SVSM to a 40-36 victory. Pushing their record to 24-1, the Irish reclaimed the state title and tightened their grasp on the mythical national high school hoops championship awarded by USA Today .

Next on lebron james's agenda were the 26th annual McDonald's All-American High School Boys Basketball Game at Gund Arena and the EA Sports Roundball Classic in Chicago. The McDonald's game has produced 15 top overall picks in the NBA draft, which sets up another likely headline-making moment for lebron james. As the league's surefire number-one pick, he along with the rest of the world will learn the location of the next stop on his basketball odyssey at the draft lottery.

Among the teams hoping for a lucky bounce of the ping-pong ball were Cleveland, Denver, Memphis and Toronto. Some even suggested that the Cavs dealt Andre Miller knowing the trade would weaken their club and thus improve their chances of landing the ultimate hometown hero in the draft. If that was indeed the team's strategy, it worked. Cleveland got the top pick and grabbed lebron james. Though his contract with the Cavs was slotted in by the league's rookie salary structure, he had no worries about money. In fact, estimates put his endorsement deals (with the likes of Nike, Coca-Cola and Upper Deck) at $100 million.

The lights glared, the expectations rose and the pressure intensified in lebron james's first season with the Cavs. Of course, he had been performing under similar conditions most of his life. But he was also cashing a paycheck every couple of weeks and taking mega-dollar endorsement fees to the bank for the first time. Critics were concerned that this windfall might rob lebron james of perspective and hinder his ascent to the stratosphere of pro hoops. 

But the teenager remained focused. A team player from the opening of training camp, he averaged 21 points, six assists and more than 5 rebounds per game. In turn, he helped lift Cleveland from cellar-dweller to playoff contender. The Cavs ended the season at 35-47, a marked improvement over the previous year's performance.

Cleveland also got solid contributions from Carlos Boozer and Zydrunas Ilgauskas, both of whom provided muscle in the paint. The Cavs juggled the roster midway through the campaign, sending Ricky Davis and Chris Mihm to Boston for Eric Williams and Tony Battie. Jeff McInnis was another in-season pick-up who made an impact. Cleveland battled the Celtics tooth-and-nail for the final playoff spot in the East, but was egded out by a single game.

lebron james was the number one reason for the team's turnaround. After getting his feet wet early in November, he strung together 11 games with double-digit scoring, and finished the month with a 33-point, 16-rebound effort against the Memphis Grizzlies. lebron james continued his fine play through December and January, then suited up in the Rookie Challenge Game during the All-Star Weekend. He led the newcomers with 33 points, but the sophs won the contest behind Amare Stoudemire.

Heading down the stretch in '04-when many rookies hit the proverbial wall-lebron james played perhaps his best ball of the year. In late March against the New Jersey Nets, he exploded for 41 points and 13 assists in a 107-104 victory. He posted two more double-doubles in April.

Those types of performances stayed in voters' minds when it came time for Rookie of the Year balloting. Though Carmelo Anthony also had a big season, lebron james beat out his buddy and walked away with the hardware. Along the way, he aslo accepted an invitation to represent the U.S. on the 2004 Olympic men's basketball team. At 19, he'll be the youngest member of the squad in Greece. 

Off the court, lebron james displayed the type of dignity and class that veterans twice his age are known for. He answered every question thrown at him, kept his nose clean and quietly lent his support to plenty of charitable causes, including a generous donation earmarked for the rennovation of an old Akron court in the Ed Davis Community Center where he played as a kid. 

After only one year in the pros, this much is certain: lebron james's story will remain among the most-followed in the history of sports. 

There's nothing lebron james can't do, at least on the amateur level. In the pros, his challenges will be more complex, his competition more experienced. At approximately 6-7, 240-he has never divulged his vital stats-he has the body to survive what his sure to be a tough rookie season. His quickness and strength are off the charts, his court vision and ballhandling skills are highly developed, and his rebounding and defense aren't far behind.

Scouts agree that lebron james's passing ability is nothing short of extraordinary. He not only sees the whole court, but anticipates the movement of teammates and defenders. The weakest part of lebron james's game is his outside jumper. His range is excellent, but he must become more consistent on the perimeter. It will be interesting to see how his shooting changes with the arduous NBA schedule.

lebron james's willingness to share the ball and get others involved is one of the things coaches love about him. His unselfishness underscores his innate understanding of basketball and how fully he embraces the fundamentals. It also leads many to believe that lebron james will be extremely coachable and earn him big minutes from the moment he dons an NBA jersey.

Winning appears to be lebron james's ultimate motivation. He has captured championships at every level, and others naturally gravitate to him. Interestingly, it took Kobe Bryant-the man to whom lebron james will most frequently be compared-two years before he got a full sense of where he stood in the league, and two more years to earn the trust and respect of teammates. Kobe is just now beginning to understand what's required of a team leader.

If that's the yardstick lebron james must measure up to, he'll happily deal with it. It means that people are already putting him on the same level as the NBA's greatest high-school-to-the-pros success story. It also lets lebron james aim high-something he loves to do. Kobe got his first championship ring in his fourth season. You get the feeling that, if lebron james has any say in the matter, he'll do it in three.