LeBron James' high school team beats SoCal powerhouse Mater Dei (2003) | ESPN Archive

Watch the highlights as LeBron James' high school team, No. 9 St. Vincent-St. Mary, beat Southern California basketball powerhouse Mater Dei, ranked No. 4, at UCLA's Pauley Pavilion. James scored 21 points in the game.
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[@jcabram9002]

“We are privileged to be here today” said one of the legends of the NBA before watching a high school kid playing. What a statement by Bill Walton. Such an epic comment.

[@juhgfdsapiyhhnnxc3517]

@@daveymcc1421 no 😂😂

[@ant6936]

@@daveymcc1421 bro he was 18 when he made his nba debut 🤣

[@tacotom3492]

I'd heard about LeBron when he was 8tu grade .. Only Kobe or Webber etc others . He didn't disappoint

[@22s22a]

He was so hyped and lived up to it and every way and beyond

[@airkuna]

no

[@killinghawkz]

@@airkuna .... how no?

[@tylac7468]

By Far

[@nhoodjazz]

@@airkuna eat a hot one aggot

[@miniatureben3558]

@@airkuna I am no fan of Lebron in anyway but tell us how did he not lived up to the hype?

[@fernandobetancourt7874]

“A guy who is going to obliterate records along the years” Bill

[@Randommemes741]

Your ability to type out what was said is unmatched. Well done

[@nnyg83]

@@Randommemes741 thank you... so many people will literally retype a story or a comment from a video now. We all watched it, don't need to be reminded of it...

[@slimsleepr1]

He wasn’t lying. Got all the playoff records and finals record

[@goldhound4389]

Bill was way ahead of his time

[@Cheek327]

Thought it was jay that said it

[@aikcastle5043]

"We're in for a treat for many years." ~ Bill Walton

[@ADNAN0MNM]

Than he gets his son fired from the Lakers.

[@protouch502]

2003 “I believe he’s going to be a very consistent shooter in the future” 2020 *Lebron pulling from 30*

[@lunaaryal8745]

😂😂 yup

[@b-gambit1stblock74]

@J as a lebron fan he is, but when he makes his Js hes so hard to stop

[@btl_0072]

Lebron getting humiliated by KD and Steph in the finals has been good for him. Instead of hanging his head, he learned from them 2.

[@jaeaustin7362]

BTL_ 007 “humiliated”? He lost to a team with 4 allstars..nothing humiliating about that

[@getyadoughup6012]

@@jaeaustin7362 he lost to a team witj 3 allstars while he had 3. draymond isnt an allstar hes a super role player. love and kyrie have been allstars on teams of their own while draymond is trash without curry and klay

[@sulaimankhan1063]

Skip Bayless: WHY is LeBron PLaYing high ScHool players?

[@mypillowrapedme6053]

iS ThIS YoUR kING????

[@Evan-gi1hs]

well, why is he? not only is he bullying high school players as a 35 year old NBA player. but he's also being irresponsible by refusing to social distance himself and instead play a basketball game in front of a large gathering of people.

[@lavonhathcock6048]

@@Evan-gi1hs ur not funny

[@Evan-gi1hs]

@@lavonhathcock6048 ur name is

[@Snardvark25]

1a 2b you sure showed him

[@themakerofkings4145]

"Obliterate a few records along the way" That line aged extremely well

[@dantheman8152]

Yea lol

[@baker4000]

Like wine

[@samarjeetbhonsle6000]

​@@baker4000 no wonder LeBron is a wine enthusiast 🙃

[@user-yo9oe5jk2m]

LeBron: Did anybody say WINEEEE???

[@rebelsoundz]

Coronavirus- NBA season is over espn no more Lebron ESPN- let’s go to Lebron archives

[@yogo3457]

RebelDaSoundz that’s what he is call the king.

[@kidracks2991]

Michael Baby please fix your typo 😅

[@Saulgud23]

They knew people like you would click on the vid

[@wxxcable]

Can’t complain. This is why he’s the face of nba

[@keemielulep840]

@@Saulgud23 ironic

[@joshdavenport5787]

R.I.P Bill Walton ❤️🙏

[@er5490]

I respect that he's surpassed the massive amount of expectations given to him at a young age. Many other players would've still busted even with their talent just bc of the pressure. Glad to see him play in this era

[@tumbledog3089]

I hope he gets drafted.

[@daviddespas2957]

No he won’t. He’s not physical enough and doesn’t have the athleticism to be an NBA caliber player.

[@lavonhathcock6048]

These jokes are getting old

[@azb2606]

I smell a whoosh coming

[@expertet3312]

Duuude whaaaaattt do u not watch the nba this lebron guy is like 35 yr old playing for the lakers and do u not realizde this vid is like 20 yrs old?? whaaaaaaattt?

[@nameentered6705]

Pretty sure he will have to go to college first

[@flyassbj]

It’s crazy to look back and see that Lebron lived up to the hype for near 20 years. GOAT

[@gumshoe7237]

the only reason there's even an argument now is we have a whole generation that didn't see Mj play .. Jordan set the bar for all the rest and never ever ever disappeared in the 4th quarter...

[@00Mindi00]

Not even close to GOAT level. He doesn't hold a candle next to Michael. He's a generational great yes, but nothing more.

[@TOKEREAPER454]

@@00Mindi00 generational great but nothing more.. hmmm 😂

[@dantewilliams7458]

@@00Mindi00 Foh but you watching

[@EternalRegretz]

@@00Mindi00 typical braindead comment

[@shimonhawkins13]

Jay Bilas is a brilliant analyst. He said young LBJ wasn't 'systematized', astutely foreshadowing 'positionless' bball...

[@zacka6226]

I'm just a couple years older than LeBron, and in high school, I remember feeling frustrated with how boxed in I felt at any position. If you're a forward, get down low in the key, post up. If you're small forward or shooting guard, get out on the wing and try to get it into the post player. It felt like a lot of my talents, or anyone's talents, would go to waste like that, and other teams that just played "playground ball" against us would wipe the floor with us. We were early millennials who were ready to play a new way, and our coaches were boomers who came up before the 3 point line was invented, and back in a time when height and weight were supposed to matter more than athleticism and sheer talent. Basketball is always changing.

[@shimonhawkins13]

@@zacka6226 👍👍👍👍

[@marquesekj]

@@zacka6226 yes..the shitty coaches we all had who thought they were coach pop lol..I got pigeonholed too jus cuz I was the tallest on the team at like 6'0 so I was made to be the center and never learned guard skills until I taught myself later after HS..ik a lot of ppl said this but I legit had a shot to be special..maybe not nba special but at least d1 special..haunts me to this day

[@lilcourtny08]

@@marquesekj lol

[@7Roxer]

@@marquesekj It really is like that dude, for real. A lot of that stuff comes down to luck and circumstance. Being in the right position and getting noticed by the right people

[@jaycrib303]

Bill was spot on with how much respect he was putting on Lebrons name.

[@shinyt9003]

14:41 argues with the officials in the exact same way XD

[@marvintorres3687]

Are you playing basketball? Natural for players arguing with the officials 😏

[@TheJozaaaaaaa]

@@marvintorres3687 I think he meant that his body language hasn't changed much.

[@jacobj656]

I said the same thing out loud to myself. Lol 😂

[@shinyt9003]

@@TheJozaaaaaaa yeah haha its the both hands out and the facial expression. turns immediately as well...just looks like him in an nba game!

[@Ingspinipsgni]

😂😂😂 I noticed that too

[@damianwhindleton2218]

Lebron Probably watching this at some point today

[@adad3529]

Who's watching this after he became the leading scorer of all time!

[@anthonyjcjr6954]

Me but I ain’t giving you a like

[@moseskmukori]

Lol I’m not ashamed but dude is dope

[@rodbenjamin9909]

Watched this life growing up. I was 10

[@livethebmxlife]

naaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa kobe is

[@Lewis0555]

@@anthonyjcjr6954 u gave him a comment that was good enough

[@MrBanko8]

Crazy that this is 17 years ago.

[@cousinchris5851]

I feel sorry for those poor Cali kids. He's already at NBA All-star level. Could've went pro Jr. year if possible

[@kn7cks347]

Cousin Chris he could’ve went Top 5 in the NFL . He was a WR but imagine LeBron playing Safety with his IQ 💀💀💀💀💀💀💀

[@matthewchow4991]

Couldve went pro as a baby. Imagine baby lebron dunking.

[@AlphaDwg]

and would have been the number 1 pick

[@AlphaDwg]

@Brandon Pina Lebron looks like he runs at LEAST a 4.5

[@wasupgaming]

@Brandon Pina Lebron was one of the fastest player in the league until atleast 2011

[@DougLarsen1]

Bill Walton: "Mater Dei was clearly the best team in the first 8 minutes of this ball game" *Rewinds to first 8 minutes* SVSM 7, MDEI 1...

[@willnagy1955]

High school quarters are only 8 minutes long, that scoreline was only 4 minutes into the game.

[@thetwoboyz4542]

Doug Larsen that was the first few minutes idiot

[@h1s41rness2]

It still bewilders me how an 18-year old who’s a senior in high school was able to live up to the hype.

[@dirtsticktv185]

Bruv was a whole different animal especially being that he studied the game

[@eugenemarshall2532]

Right that's rare

[@harlemren5993]

And we still got haters im just confused HE really is under appreciated

[@dutdut2.059]

Eugene Marshall eh, basically every all time great in the NBA was a high draft pick. in the top 10 players of all time, all were taken top 3 except bird who was taken 6th. with 6 of them being taken #1 overall. We’re being brainwashed into pretending that every elite HS/college player busts. Which is far from the case

[@qdakid7776]

@@dutdut2.059 most of them are just average

[@Hiaki1000]

Wow, they hyped him and his greatness so much and he was even better than everyone thought - that's uncanny

[@nmb5588]

Even the look on his face when called for over the back foul resembles the legend of today. Had that swagger and confidence early on.

[@paulngo4631]

I remember when I was in High school. Mater Dei would destroy my high school team yearly. Not even close. Glad to see Lebron put an end to their domination.

[@tariqmartin3528]

Crazy to look back and see how LeBron lived up to the hype.. 20 years dominating the league 🐐💪🏾🔥

[@rata_laadat]

Idk why Romeo Travis # 24 on SVSM looks Like a Shorter Version of AD

[@mikkozon]

2021 and LeBron is still improving, what a career. Wow.

[@woah.one89]

2023 and lebron is gonna pass kareem on the all time scoring list in a couple months

[@mikkozon]

@@woah.one89 and it don't stop. Can't help but be amazed.

[@chuyozuna2398]

@@woah.one89 he already did 💪🏽

[@woah.one89]

@@chuyozuna2398 yezziirr

[@LekeO]

2023 and is about to complete back to back 30 years averaging 30 mpg

[@jessejackson109]

“We will be privileged to be here today” Bill Walton is poetic

[@bearable55]

Lebron playing in a 3XL jersey. Looks like the jersey about to fall off him.😂

[@MarcusDailyMedia]

Hip Hop in the late 90s to mid 2000s.

[@Twomps]

It was popular at the time. Anti 80s

[@BLacKnREDBeaST]

It was popular at the time. Some NBA players did the same thing like Kobe.

[@buckwildboys1]

That Ninja E! Early 2000s watch hip hop videos from this time niggas be wearin obease mans clothes

[@thefallofthewicked5865]

@@buckwildboys1 early 90's started the baggy era here in NYC not 2000.

[@coreysanko]

"We look forward to many good years from him" man was that something that came true 👌💯

[@isynciswim7382]

Imagine LeBron wearing a jersey that says “Irish” on the front.

[@terrencenojokebozeman7920]

I use to have all three colors... Green, white and the gold

[@txbroseph2659]

Irish spring green green

[@_Jetski]

This kid is gonna be one of greatest to ever do it on and off the court 🐐

[@jamesmarkley7155]

It's so weird to see Dan schulman and Jay bilas with hair on their heads 😂😂

[@bobtwista]

13:59 "when everyone else has the same physical maturity?" When will that be? Lol he was bullying everyone from rookie season onward 😆

[@maxtheflyingdutchman7069]

18 years later : yes he is very special, its the GOAT.

[@Nate_Mones]

11:23 the guy predicts the future

[@Dabighomiee]

For gods sake espn can you please post one of the ones we haven’t seen ? Iike the game he hit 11 3 pointers against Mentor High School.

[@itsxtray]

Facts... I've been looking for that game for years.

[@Dabighomiee]

itsxtray that and a few other games . They just keep reposting the same ones that have been on KZbin since forever . I’m trying to watch that shooting clinic lol especially since right after coming back from suspension lol

[@tomo4206]

I hope he gets drafted to the NBA.

[@vc5917]

@@tomo4206 he’s not really that good reminds me of a poors man Lamar Odom

[@Airestotle09]

20 years later and he’s still top 5 player in the world

[@AkronKid330]

Love all these old videos coming out during this craziness our world is going through! This brings back so many memories and seems like it was yesterday!

[@anthonyzuno8814]

13:30 Lebron slapped tf outta that ref 😂😂😂

[@pancon5]

6:06 that aged well, it describes his first Cleveland years where he often settled for the "sexier" jumpers versus his more mature years from Miami onwards where he got in the post and overpowered almost everyone.

[@KISutona]

Everything he did in this game he still do to this day even his reaction to calls that doesn’t go his way

[@cjc1212]

even the way he high fives his teammates 😂

[@tayvonwilson1443]

Did lebron wear those white things to cover his tats

[@PortgasDASCE]

Yep! Since he went to a catholic school they didn’t allow him to have visible tattoos while playing games

[@ErK1oneZ]

This is so AI

[@stefanmilinkovic6433]

That boy Lebron was tatted up 😂

[@1987bch]

Most high school rules required covering tattoos back then

[@lijaniahsmith8294]

I know he’s young but crazy how thin bron was

[@Christian-vq8rd]

I got to see the most exciting freshman player at Polly Pavilion when Mater Dei with Shea Cotton beat Loyola in (I think) 1996. Unbelievable talent that never materialized.

[@ely7605]

He always been a passer. He’s always been unselfish. He’s always been humble and a great athlete! He’s always wanted other people to shine. He can always score but he can help other people get paid. All you have to do is make the shot. Imagine if those guys when he was with Cleveland and Miami hit those shots. He would have more accolades then Michael Jordan. The difference is Michael Jordan teammates would hit their shots.

[@gorillafromdamist]

Ely exactly

[@ely7605]

He took it and that’s kool. At the end of the day, if you wasn’t that good. You get passed the ball and make the shot. That means it could be a payday from other teams. This video just showed he’s been consistent and a great teammate.

[@Mckylan]

@@ely7605 i hate when ppl say lebron is selfish arrogant etc n all these dumb narrative. They hate greatness

[@ely7605]

@HS LBJ, I grew up watching Jordan. If Lebron has players like that, he would’ve won to. Jordan didn’t have to do all the work. He can take a rest. The only difference Jordan was more aggressive because he was selfish. Lebron believe in his teammates. Just look at his h.s. highlights.

[@barasketbol3237]

Difference with jordan and lebron is that jordan motivated his teammates to be the best version of themselves; lebron on the otherhand trusted his teammates in a way that theve been complacent with their talents and never strived for greatness

[@omarioomario5290]

LeBron has always been a BEAST 😳

[@omarianbyrd6398]

On God I 🤯🤯

[@Twomps]

The most hyped player I've ever seen. He surpassed the hype and still improving about 20 years later

[@RexT3rra]

Always

[@lord4806]

@TheRealist 811 Of course someone brings that up. It will haunt him till he dies and maybe beyond.

[@-.TS.-]

Bust - I’ll come back to this in 15 years.

[@eddiesmith2137]

He will fade out with time. No worries.

[@ewilso22]

8:55 "If he couldn't run fast or jump high we'd still be talking about him". This is why Bron could play until he's 50.

[@cellislogan-isotunes3528]

i cannot believe i was born in the same city as Bron, this dude came from this and ended up being the no.1 scorer in nba history

[@qceaz11]

I remember this game no Sion no problem LeBron never forgot about that AAU championship game he had to get his revenge 💪💯

[@nicktatertot7411]

12:43 why are they calling this a hold? LeBron's hands were at his side and he didn't even reach up to touch the kid, the kid kinda shoved him. Weird

[@kennethreichelt]

I didn't think it was much of a hold. But they didn't call LeBron's travel just a minute after that.

[@tjwhitley5284]

Kenneth Reichelt And thus a tradition started.

[@chip9662]

It’s subtle but he held him down it’s just a bad angle

[@ak2pacalypse]

@@chip9662 If you look at 0.25x speed lebron backs off at the end and the other players arm actually extends backwards into lebron's body. It was a good no call I think.

[@myronwilborn6561]

Was Destined for basketball greatness and achieved every bit of it. Salute

[@mamamo1639]

17 years after still the best

[@DaddyDeadBeat]

The bounce he had from his highschool days til bout 2013 was totally unfair

[@Twomps]

Plenty of guys are bouncy. His speed and agility at that size was unfair. Cat quick with greyhound speed.

[@clarkfaunillan7872]

And yet afraid to join NBA slamdunk contest 😂😂😂

[@RexT3rra]

Til 2020

[@beau116]

@@clarkfaunillan7872 he's just being smart. look at MJ joined the three point contest and failed miserably. Bron's an in game dunker and he knows that.

[@cristianestrada5381]

Look at all the effort and hustle and bricks!!

[@jasonknapp4694]

Mike Gerrity (#1 for MD) won a ring as a player dev coach with the Cavs during Bron’s second stint. He’s a cool guy

[@godjames2905]

20 YEARS of GREATNESS

[@anthonydeleo6428]

7:13 was incredibly prescient.. jokic is now a back to back mvp

[@anthonydeleo6428]

7:00

[@snooppp8873]

Bron averaging 26 in highschool and in the nba😂

[@lavonhathcock6048]

What's funny though

[@jiggybah1304]

La Von Hathcock it’s ridiculous

[@emerybmusic]

XXshrek 26 in high school isn’t impressive

[@AveMcree]

@@emerybmusic Against schools that would destroy your old or current school.... You must live in a box bro... He's one of the few players that has prep school W's on his belt (with the Ball brothers and Jalen Brown).

[@myopiniondoesntmatter9539]

Emery Bryan games are only 32 min long and no shot clock..

[@nateschmidt1338]

Most hyped player ever and he lived up to it and more! WOW

[@D1Junk]

Its crazy what a individual sport basketball is. You can literally have 4 average players on a team, with one big time recruit and be in contention for state titles. This goes for every level of basketball.

[@willowandluka5302]

Almost every kid on the floor in this game played D1 ball. Nothing average about them.

[@juhgfdsapiyhhnnxc3517]

@@willowandluka5302 no lol one was fat one was short asf

[@livethebmxlife]

an^

[@spencerj4677]

Romeo Travis was very solid. Without him they don't win all those games

[@chrisperez3614]

You can’t win in the NBA this way

[@nitsujjurolan]

Yo ESPN archive please upload the video of Bron dropping 52 on Ariza in Highschool. Thanks!

[@senord2429]

3:24 reminded me of that play this year with Dwight Howard

[@jetfoxgacang3422]

Where is this man nowww. He is very talented.

[@Darealkingrichard]

@14:20-14:31 proves that championships are based more on teams than individuals. 10 finals despite often not having a top 5 team or the best team is beyond impressive. It kills the whole 6-0 mj goat argument,those teams were BEST TEAMS in the 90s

[@Godhorus]

It was clear from the beginning. Lebron is a master of the game from the very beginning. No comparing but he will be an absolute legend for the upcoming 100 years.

[@justincase3701]

This man been leading since highschool all the way to the nba always been the best player on his team

[@Pan-Afrika]

@11:04 getting that pass out while on the floor deserved some recognition, atleast to me.

[@exoticgamer5866]

10:25 could be a good “no context” moment for like 30 seconds 😂😂

[@xandercage179]

8:19 i know ryt! SAS is lebrons highschool coach

[@jamorant7132]

14:43 he was born for this

[@40biggaman]

These KIDS are playing beautiful basketball. ALL OF THEM!!

[@logancolston8061]

Bro the shot lebron hit at 10:51, and the one in the first half from the left elbow...he literally abandoned that type of shot when he got to the NBA. That pullup jumper with a high release that most great perimeter scores in nba history have. He would have been a lot better served to refine that move. It would have made him a better free throw shooter and given him a go-to move that wasnt just a drive to the cup which he could use even when he wasnt on a hot streak.

[@franchise3363]

When your dads the head coach and he think you are the “heart and soul” of the team lol

[@TheHtrero0204]

Walton bagging on Wash St at 9:37 🤣 savage

[@yogo3457]

This kid averaged 26.10 5 now 35 averageing 25 7 10.

[@templetonbob]

LeBron not getting called for the foul even at that age is hilarious. Allstar treatment at work.

[@josesalcedo5963]

“ how was that now a foul he held him” “ what a bad call”😂😂

[@alvinsaisi5969]

8:45 the most accurate prediction for Lebron James

[@wassup4294]

Getting no calls his whole life

[@alexx1891]

7:01 nailed it

[@christopherd.3291]

Crazy no foul call on Lebron. Excellent 2nd half

[@dashawnhibbert2082]

LeBron the chosen one

[@dashawnhibbert2082]

The king of LA

[@Mckylan]

Dashawn Hibbert LABron 👑🙌🏾

[@piagetbillones8900]

from being the best high school basketball player in the world, to being the king of basketball.

[@DJ-iv2xo]

This guy has got some talent. He might be able to jump from high school directly to the pros.

[@MegaGC8]

You can believe this or not, but we had a transfer from MD play at our school. He talked about how amazed and intimidated they all were of Lebron James.

[@pauljulian3937]

Skip bagless “ but you didn’t have a triple double” 😅😂🤣

[@elliotbottel2674]

Man this is good...now the all time

[@jingliew1941]

Curry changed the game for this generation, as you can see not a lot of 3pt attempts in this game even when some players are wide open

[@soulzy3596]

Which is sad because there’s nothing wrong with taking 3s but the threes kids take today are a joke .

[@PresidentMarshallFay]

“I would put him in the post”. My how times have changed for the better

[@nnyg83]

Well it was Bill Walton, right? He's always been a moron, who didn't win a title until he played with Bird and the Celtics after he was in his 30s... how is this guy a "legend"

[@tiotito31]

Just put the full game on. Why these shortened versions?

[@nateadams2984]

Crazy if you look at his highschool stats basically the same stats as in the NBA.

[@thelaxlair6727]

Man LeBron has always done that shoulder shrug thing haha

[@hangkwonglim1803]

Still can't believe that this video of Lebron is nearly 20 years ago!

[@jasonjackson33]

Yeah Zion is nothing like LeBron. He doesn’t really make plays for himself or others.

[@gregorycastillo4799]

Zion is just using athleticism how his skills develop will dictate how good he will be.

[@Kilooma]

jose yepez but in a worse league

[@cole4763]

SHaNkkK SHHTICk worse Than the nba but much better than high school

[@icompletelyagreewithu9989]

POLO_ COLO_GAMING no at the age Luka won mvp lbj was already in the nba

[@sergenkumas]

SHaNkkK SHHTICk Luka played in the Spanish League/Euroleague, the second best league after the NBA.

[@kevinsheahan9347]

The announcer’s intro was perfect

[@kaspergalvan7520]

13:30 he slap the whistle lol

[@chillrell1801]

I haven’t seen any other HS player hyped and spectaculed like this

[@christschool]

Mike Gerrity, number 1 for Mater Dei, has an interesting story you can find on ESPN from 2010. Today, he's the Cavs’ Director of Player Development.

[@auto._]

7:00 this man is getting what he wished for big man are getting flasher and are not just chucking up the ball from close to the basket