Even in high school, LeBron was ready for superstardom.
On December 12, 2002, LeBron was unveiled to the nation. In the first nationally televised high school game since 1989, LeBron led St. Vincent – St. Mary against the #1 ranked Oak Hill team.
The hype around LeBron had been building for months, if not years, and the nation waited to see what he could deliver.
What he delivered was one of his best high school performances in history. With the arena filled with fans, pro players and scouts, and with millions watching at home, he put up 31 points and hauled in 13 rebounds in a 65-45 win.
But as good as his play was on the court, how he handled the spotlight off the court was just as impressive. He knew that despite all the attention on him, the most important thing wasn’t pleasing the crowd, it was winning the game.
‘I’m more happy we won,'’ said LeBron. ‘’It’s not about putting on a show, it’s about playing my game.'’
LeBron put the team first and respected the game. He proved he was ready to be a superstar.
This weekend, six of the top high school programs will get their time in the spotlight at one of basketball’s most hallowed grounds – Madison Square Garden – as part of the Nike Super 6 Invitational. These future NBA superstars will take this opportunity to prove they can shine in the spotlight without losing sense of what’s most important. The game.
Handling the spotlight is another chapter in the Complete Story.
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