The Chosen One
Today I want to look back with you on a young and promising basketball talent, that was about to embark on his final year of high school during the winter of 2002.
Little did LeBron James know that this transformative year would take him from a solitary photo shoot to a historic game that would forever etch his name in basketball history.
It was a chilly morning when LeBron arrived alone at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School, ready to pose for his first Sports Illustrated cover.
With ambition in his eyes, the high school junior stood before the lens of a 25-year-old photographer, Simon LeBrecht, who had never shot a cover for the renowned magazine before.
The two embarked on a captivating journey, capturing LeBron's talent and charisma through various poses.
From the locker room to the basketball court, soaring to the rim.
The cover, titled "The Chosen One", catapulted LeBron onto the national stage, thrusting him into the spotlight at an unprecedented level.
With newfound fame came immense pressure and scrutiny.
LeBron's high school games drew record crowds, leading to relocations to larger arenas and televised broadcasts throughout Ohio.
Reporters, agents, autograph seekers, and sneaker company representatives swarmed his every move, even infiltrating his everyday routines like their lunch in the school cafeteria.
The once humble basketball season turned into a chaotic circus, with a sense of entitlement permeating the team's atmosphere, resulting in skipped classes and late-night partying of the young king.
However, amidst the chaos, LeBron's talent shone brightest.
On December 12, 2002, St. Vincent-St. Mary faced their formidable rivals, Oak Hill, in a game that would be broadcast live nationwide on ESPN.
Never before had a high school game received such prestigious coverage.
With legendary commentators Dick Vitale and Bill Walton observing, LeBron delivered a performance for the ages.
31 points, 13 rebounds, 6 assists propelled the STVM Irish to a historic 65:45 victory against Oak Hill, forever solidifying LeBron's place as an iconic figure in high school basketball.
To immortalize this unique moment in basketball history on canvas, James' SI cover photo was captured in acrylic, markers and spray paint on canvas and the original issue of Cleveland's "The Plain Dealer" from December 13th, 2002.
