Basketball's next big thing: the King James version

And a few weeks ago, the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSA) declared James ineligible for the rest of the season after it discovered he accepted two vintage sports jerseys, valued at $845, from a local clothing store. Earlier this year, too, when his mother Gloria gave him a $50,000 Hummer SUV for his 18th birthday, the OHSA began an investigation.

Money was always scarce for James and his mother. She was 16 when she gave birth, a single mother dependent on odd jobs, state assistance, and family friends to provide for her child. Her longtime boyfriend, Eddie Jackson, is the only father James has ever known. Both keep tight control of the people around him, and they refuse to let him be interviewed.

The SUV, it turned out, was purchased with a loan - a bank betting on the future earning power of King James, who should receive no less than $25 million for endorsements after he graduates from high school, as well as a three-year, $11 million NBA rookie salary, after he's taken with the first pick, as most expect. This for a kid who still eats cereal for breakfast and dinner. A judge, meanwhile, halted James suspension for the time being - which allowed him to play at the Prime Time Shootout.

Amid all the controversy, James's vaunted skills were on full display in Trenton. At 6-feet, 8-inches, the 240-pound teen is already bigger and stronger than Jordan was at his prime. His feathery touch on his jump shot, his explosive speed, and his remarkable passing make him more than just a kid with enormous potential. Whoever lands his endorsement could well dominate the market for years just as Nike has done with Jordan.

In the first quarter, James scored 18 consecutive points, including four three-pointers and a skipping, half-court heave at the buzzer. By half time he had scored 41. Starting the second half, he made three straight steals, followed by break-away dunks.

By the end of the game, St. Vincent-St. Mary had blown out a top-ranked team from Los Angeles, and James had scored a career-high 52 points. When he was taken out with 2 minutes to go, he raised his arms, wiggled the tips of his fingers, and urged the crowd to cheer.

There were 48 high school teams at the tournament, over 500 players, but there was only one press conference. After the game, James walked before a throng of cameras and reporters, raised his arms again, and said, "Basketball questions only tonight."

First question: "LeBron, how did it feel to be on the court tonight?"

A big smile. "Well, it felt good for me tonight. I don't know what got into me tonight. Maybe the crowd - probably." Then, as if catching himself, he shifted focus and talked about his team, why they're No. 1 in the country.

Second question: "LeBron, the media scrutiny has been intense. This morning in Trenton, you complained about the media's treatment, but the media, on the flip side, also is the reason you are famous. How are you handling the media and your recent controversies, and how do you plan to go forward with those kind of issues?"

There was an air of defiance, bordering on a taunt. James tilted his head to the side and pushed the sides of his mouth down, showing a surprised, exaggerated frown. "I complained? Where'd you read that? I never complained about the media."

I imagined James with Jordan, who would put his arm over the teenager's shoulder, and explain the art of the interview. This is what to say. Never get rattled. Never get angry. Always, always talk about your teammates.

James went on. "Y'all got me famous, but you know, I make myself famous out there. I worked hard, I put in every hour to get myself better." He shifts uneasily in his chair, and changes his answer. "Jesus Christ made me famous. None of y'all made me famous. Without Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, you know, none of this would be possible."

The questions about the controversies continued, however, and though James didn't seem rattled, he, too, turned a bit defiant.

"If you remember earlier in the season, after the Hummer investigation, I scored 50," he says. "Now after this investigation, I scored 52. So, if something else happens, I'm going to score 52 again." He laughs. "Anytime adversity happens, it doesn't bother me. Off-court things, I let my family handle this over here, and my second family, my teammates, we handle it on the court."

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