Legal fight

James' lawyer decided against appeal through OHSAA

James still doesn't know how long he'll be able to play in the state playoffs. Stephen Dunn/Getty Images

CLEVELAND (AP) -- LeBron James' lawyer decided a legal fight was the only way the high school superstar was going to get his eligibility restored.

Attorney Fred Nance said that after James was ruled ineligible in January by the Ohio High School Athletic Association for accepting two sports jerseys for free, he knew appealing the decision with the agency would be unproductive.

"We considered it, and concluded it would be futile," Nance said Monday.

James, expected to be the No. 1 pick in this year's NBA draft, may not have his court case heard again until after he concludes his high school career for Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary.

On Friday, OHSAA lawyer Steven Craig asked Judge James Williams to dismiss James' appeal of its ruling that declared him ineligible for getting the two "throwback" jerseys -- valued at $845 -- from a clothing store.

Williams postponed a hearing scheduled for Wednesday and ordered lawyers on both sides to submit new briefs by March 14, one day before the school could play in a state tournament game at Toledo.

James will continue his quest for a third state title in four years on Tuesday night with a matchup against Akron Archbishop Hoban. Officials said Monday the game at Canton McKinley's 5,000-seat field house is sold out.

Craig ask Williams to dismiss the case, contending that James' appeal should be thrown out because the 18-year-old could have pursued appeal options within the organization.

Nance argues that OHSAA commissioner Clair Muscaro's "rush to judgment" in ruling on James' eligibility gave him no other option but to take the case before Williams.

"We felt by ruling in less than 24 hours that the commissioner was making a statement," said Nance, who added he was not surprised the OHSAA would seek a dismissal.

Nance said once Williams receives the briefs that it could be several more weeks before the judge holds a hearing. If his team advances to the state championship, James would play his final high school game on March 22.

James had his eligibility reinstated on Feb. 5 by Williams, who issued a temporary restraining order that blocked the OHSAA's ruling and reduced the penalty against James to a two-game suspension.

Williams did not rule on the OHSAA's decision to make the Fighting Irish forfeit one of its wins.

James scored 30 points -- 14 on dunks -- in just three quarters as St. Vincent-St. Mary routed Akron Kenmore 84-30 in Friday night's state playoff opener.

James and his teammates displayed the same tenacity that helped them beat top programs all over the country this season, earning the Fighting Irish their current No. 1 ranking from USA Today.

"There hasn't been a letdown this year," coach Dru Joyce II said. "The guys have been ready to go in every game. The greatest thing I've seen is their focus has been there and their intensity has been there since the first game. As a coach, you can't ask for anything more."

The intensity is unlikely to diminish for the matchup with Hoban, St. Vincent-St. Mary's bitter rival whom the Fighting Irish beat 72-33 in last year's playoffs.

 

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