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A KING was Born
On December 30, 1984. Gloria , Lebron's mom, 6 months away from graduating Highschool gave birth to LeBron Raymone James in Akron, Ohio. There was no silver spoon in his mouth when he entered the world. James grew up without a father. He did not have much contact with his biological father. When Gloria's parents and grandparents died, LeBron and his mother had nowhere else to turn.
But people stepped in to help. Gloria and LeBron met the Walker family in West Akron, Ohio, and every Thanksgiving -- even today, when money is no longer a major issue - James and his mother spend the holiday there.
After all, the Walkers took a fifth-grade LeBron in when he needed it the most. Living with the family of five became a pivotal time in James' rearing from child to young man, while his mother was trying to get her life together.
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.
Situations began to somewhat improve for James, when his mother began a relationship with Eddie Jackson and Eddie Jackson became a father figure to him. He regularly attended James' high school basketball games.
The next step in 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 James' basketball mentor and coach from then on.
Dru Joyce II and the Walkers enforced the importance of school to LeBron, and amid all the glitz and glamour during his junior and senior years at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School, James still held a solid 3.5 grade point average.
Lebron James High School Basketball
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, 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.
Lebron James took over the team after Carter's graduation and averaged 25.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 3.8 steals for SVSM en route to another state title. He was subsequently named Ohio's "Mr. Basketball" and selected to the USA Today All-USA First Team , the first sophomore to receive each of these honors.
James was also an avid football player, and was named First-Team All-State as a wide receiver. However, injury concerns led James to concentrate solely on basketball.
During Lebron's junior year his stats improved again. He averaged 29.0 points, 8.3 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 3.3 steals and was again named Mr. Basketball of Ohio. He also earned a spot on the All-USA First Team, and was named the 2001-02 Gatorade National Boys Basketball Player of the Year. It was at this time that his nickname "King" James would become a household staple in Ohio.
LeBron James appeared in SLAM Magazine, which began his nationwide exposure. However, the St. Vincent-St. Mary basketball team failed to defend its state title when it moved up to the more challenging Division II and lost to Cincinnati's Roger Bacon High School. James attempted to declare for the NBA Draft, petitioning for an adjustment to the NBA's draft eligibility rules which, at the time, required prospective players to have at least completed high school. The petition was unsuccessful, but it led to an unprecedented level of attention on him as he entered his senior year. By then, James had already appeared on the covers of Sports Illustrated and ESPN The Magazine. His popularity forced his team to move their practices from the school gym to the nearby James A. Rhodes Arena at the University of Akron. NBA stars such as Shaquille O'Neal attended the games, and a few of James's high school games were even televised nationally on ESPN2 and regionally on pay-per-view.
"I've got this inner circle," 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, 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 James won Ohio state championships as a freshman, junior and senior. She was there when 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 a Hummer -- one of many amazing rides James will be driving throughout his career. All of these influences helped James become the future legend that the basketball world is raving about today.