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James says goodbye to home floor Posted: Saturday January 25, 2003 12:54 AMAKRON, Ohio (AP) -- LeBron James will never again play in front of a smaller crowd or in a smaller place. The high school basketball phenom played his final home game in St. Vincent-St.Mary's 1,700-seat gymnasium Friday night, leading the nation's No. 1 team to a 98-46 win over Walsh Jesuit. With his now-famous Hummer parked outside and before a senior night crowd that included Ohio State tailback Maurice Clarett and a film crew from CBS' "60 Minutes," James scored 30 points and added five rebounds and eight assists. "It was a special night for us," James said. "This is where it all started." James and his teammates have spent the season playing in NBA-sized arenas across the country, giving the 6-foot-8 senior a preview of what to expect when he turns pro. This was just the second chance for the Fighting Irish (13-0) to play on the private school's campus. The team played its season opener in the gym, but that game was suspended because of a power outage. Because of ticket demand for James' games, the school moved its "home" games to the 5,900-seat James A. Rhodes Arena at the University of Akron last year. James said not being able to play more games at the school was sad. "I wish we had had more games here," said James, sporting a Cleveland Browns baseball cap and throwback No. 32 Jim Brown jersey. "We like the crowds sitting right on us. But that's how the ball bounced some times." Fans seated in the gym's wooden bleachers were encouraged to squeeze together to accommodate the overflow crowd, and those who couldn't get in watched on a wide-screen TV in the school's student theater. James missed his first three shots, and then it was show time. His first basket was a ferocious dunk, and after threading a no-look pass to teammate Romeo Travis, James stuffed in an alley-oop from guard Dru Joyce. Later, James showed his range by burying two 3-pointers from deep in the right corner. He was finally replaced with 1:28 remaining, leaving his home floor for the final time to a rousing ovation from fans who have watched him blossom from a talented kid into a superstar. James has six regular-season games left before the state tournament begins. "It's going to be sad when everything is over," James said. James parked his notorious platinum-colored Hummer H2 on the snow-covered sidewalk just outside the gym's doors, right next to a canary yellow Chevrolet Cavalier that was given away during a raffle. James is still awaiting word from state officials investigating whether he violated an amateur bylaw by accepting the extravagant sports utility vehicle as a gift. Gloria James reportedly purchased the vehicle -- with a base price of nearly $50,000 -- with a loan she obtained from a bank in Columbus and gave it to her son for his 18th birthday. James, who is expected to be the No. 1 pick in this year's NBA draft, and his senior classmates were honored during a pregame ceremony. As each of the seniors was introduced, they were accompanied on the floor by their parents. Except for James. Gloria James did not arrive in time to take part in the ceremony, leaving her son to walk out to a standing ovation flanked by two senior teammates on each side. "We grew up together," James said. "To be here for the last time, I wanted to spend that time with them." Meanwhile, Clair Muscaro, commissioner of the Ohio High School Athletic Association, said Friday he was close to completing his inquiry to determine whether James compromised his amateur status by accepting the Hummer. Muscaro said he has received financial documentation from Gloria James about the vehicle, and said he has spent the past week "gathering as much information as I can." Muscaro expects to make a ruling early next week. St. Vincent-St. Mary headmaster David Rathz said he's confident James will be cleared. "LeBron has not done anything wrong," Rathz said before Friday's game, "and nothing was done wrong here. We've cooperated with the investigation and are just waiting to hear from them." |
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