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Show Meet PARADE’s All-America High School Boys Basketball Team HERE WAS ONLY ONE NAME SCHOOL LeBron James Luol Deng Ndudi Bb Kendrick Perkins Kris Hurnphries Shannon Brown Leon Powe David Padgett Chris Paul Brian Butch St. Vincent-$t, Mary Blair Academy Westbury Clifton J. Ozen Hopkins Proviso East Oakland Tech Reno West Forsyth Appleton West Andrew Lavender Brendon Bass Travis Outlaw Sebostian Telfair* Jackie Butier Vakeaton Water Dion Harris Ekene Ibekwe Brandon Cotton Trevor Ariza Brookhaven Capito! Starkville Abraham Lincoln McComb Heritage Christian Redford Carson St Martin DaPorres Westchester Aaron Brooks Regis Koundjia Linas Kieixa Michael Jones Franklin Laurinburg Institute Montrose Christian Thayer Academy JR Giddens John Marshall name in high school boys basketball this year: LeBron James. The guard/forward for the Fighting Lrish of St. Vincent-St Mary in Akron, Ohio, announced that he would be entering the National Basketball Association draft right out of high school, sending NBA scouts scur to grab his attention. “LeBron is thebest high schoolbas ketball player I haveever seen,” says NBA Hall of Fame member Bill Walton. “He could be oneof the greats of the game.” LeBron has been namedPlayer of the Year on PARADE’s All-America High School Boys Basketball Team for the secondconsecutive year—the first athlete so honoredin the 47-year history of the program. The 40 members wereselect ed by coaches, scouts and recruiters who. lookedat players all over the US Thousands of readers estions through ESPN wn, Twenty onesta es are represented on our annual team. Texas also sent in sug No previous player—inciuding Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Magic Johnson—demonstrated the talent of LeBron James at the high schoollevel. leads, with five players It is a real honor to bethe Player of the Year,” says LeBron. “I got my first national recognition when | was named a PARADE All-American as a sophomore, undeveryonestarted pay ing attention to our team. LeBronhas ledthis teamby example all year * says his coach, Dru Joyce tl “It has made the whole am better. He couldscore 50 points every game, but he always puts theteam first.” LeBron’s | dedication was rewarded when the school retiredhis jersey on Feb. 24—anhonor usually reserved for NBA legends. He has been compared to two of them Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan. LeBron James and Magic Johnson—demonstrated and4 steals a game. Hecan shootfrom the outside, rebound, andhis ability to see plays before they happen makeshim @superb passer. In February he moved past Ohio high school legend Jerry By Columbus, Ohio Baton Rouge, La. Starkvitte, Miss. Brooklyn, N.Y. MeComb, Miss. Cleveland, Tex. Datroit, Mich. Carson, Calif Detroit, Mich Los Angeles, Calif, 57" 6'8" 69" on" 610" 66" oa" oo oo" 6'8" FOURTH TEAM Richard McBride Nimite CaN Jesse H. Acie Jones in June, Reeiapenas Olu Famutini Poul Misa Rone Brewer Fete Northwestern Grambling Lab Favettovite Ayinde Ubske Oakland Darius Washington * Edgewater Lucas” scoring record of 2460points. In February, LeBronscored a career high52 points against L.A.'s Westches ter Highinfrontof a sold-out crowd in Trenton, N.J. Even when LeBron’s el- Mic ha e | oe" 67" e109" it" 6°" oa oe" on" 61" one St. Andrew's St. Patrick Xaverian Rainier Beach St, Anthony Cartier Martin Nan DanielHarrie Gibson LeBron’s talent at the high school level. HT. THIRD TEAM St. Mary in Is certain the No. 1 topickbe At 6feet 8 and 240 pounds, LeBronav eraged32 points, 10 rebounds,5 assists CITY Akron, Ohio Bloirstown, NJ. Houston, Tex. Beaumont, Tex. Minnetonka, Minn, Maywood, It Oakland, Calif Reno, Nev. Clemmons, N.C. Appleton, Wis SECOND TEAM of St VincentAkron, Ohio, Other high schoolplayers have gone this year’s player including KareemAbdul-Jabbar inNBA draft directly into the NBArecently, but no Demetris Nichols Michael Na-di Chris Taft Rodrick Stewart Torrence Roberts FIRST TEAM O'Shea igibility came underfire in January for accepting expensivejerseys, he kept his mind focused on basketball LeBron is certain tobe the No. | choice in the NBAdraftin June. 7) PAGE 20 APRIL 6, 2003 PARADE MAGAZINE |