Lebron might consider college instead of NBA

http://espn.go.com/nba/news/2003/0409/1536165.html

James having fun with college vs. draft queries
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Associated Press

AKRON, Ohio -- Taking exaggerated sips and filling his cheeks with Gatorade, LeBron James mugged for his teammates, clearly having fun during another player of the year award presentation.

Alternately smiling and playing the ramrod-straight schoolboy, fun was on James' mind Tuesday as he pondered his future.

James, having watched good friend Carmelo Anthony lead Syracuse to the national championship the night before, suggested that he hasn't eliminated the possibility of going to college instead of jumping directly to the NBA.

"If he stays in Syracuse and I go to college, I'll make sure we get Syracuse on our schedule," James said Tuesday.

James, a 6-foot-8 senior at Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary High School, is widely acknowledged as the likely No. 1 pick in this summer's NBA draft. He has not announced that he will turn pro.

James met with reporters Tuesday after receiving the Gatorade Award, presented annually to the nation's top high school player.

Asked where he might play if he went to college, James said, "Somebody might give me a scholarship, I hope."

There's little doubt many colleges would love to have the quick, muscular swingman. Most recruiters dropped off his trail a year ago when it appeared obvious that James would make himself eligible for the NBA draft.

James said he hasn't decided when he'll announce whether he will enter the draft.

Regardless of where he plays next season, James said he intends to have fun, just as a smiling Anthony did in Syracuse's 81-78 victory in New Orleans on Monday night.

"You know it's going to be real fun, especially when you're out there playing against people that you know," he said. "You know their game, but when you're going out there playing basketball, you never know what's going to happen."

Anthony had 20 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists and was chosen as the outstanding player of the national championship game.

"If you had seen how hyped I was last night," James said. "I'm very, very proud of Carmelo."

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James said he and Anthony had talked about what they would do in the future. Anthony also is considered a potential top draft pick, should he elect to leave Syracuse.

"It's going to be great when I decide, whatever me and Carmelo are going to do, if he's going to stay in college or if I'm going to go to college," James said. "Whatever decision we're going to make, it will be pretty good."

Asked if the championship game might influence him to play in college, James said, "Any kind of basketball inspires me. It doesn't matter if you're being competitive."

He said he was proud of the Gatorade award because its criteria include a player's character and off-court volunteer work. Organizers specifically cited James' work at a center for the homeless and his willingness to accommodate autograph requests from youngsters.

James led St. Vincent-St. Mary to its third state championship in four seasons last month. The Fighting Irish also were ranked No. 1 in the nation by USA Today.

The Ohio High School Athletic Association investigated James twice during his senior season, once for accepting a Humvee H2 for an 18th birthday present from his mother and another for receiving two jerseys from a Cleveland clothing store.

The state's sanctioning body for high school athletics cleared James and his family after looking into the purchase of the truck. But it suspended James for one game and forced St. Vincent-St. Mary to forfeit a game after he admitted accepting the jerseys. He later returned them.

James went on to become Ohio's only three-time Mr. Basketball.