What made LeBron such a “can’t-miss” prospect in high school?

[Mogspan]

We’ve all seen those high school phenoms who just utterly embarrass their classmates in high school and AAU yet are met with a level of caution when it comes to projecting their careers at the highest level.

With LeBron, however, it seemed that he was EXPECTED to be, at the bare minimum, a top-10 all-time player by dozens of reputable scouts and basketball aficionados by the time he was barely old enough to drive.

His numbers were impressive, but what was it about his game that made his success a lock in a way that other prep-to-pro prodigies’ wasn’t?

Was it basically the combo of his explosive athleticism at his size with a willingness to pass?

[swyftdahoe]

It wasn't just a willingness to pass. It was clear that he was a super gifted passer / playmaker.

[Tim_Hardawayy]

The way he played in high school looked like a combination of Magic Johnson and your typical elite scoring wing (not using MJ to avoid that comparison but insert anyone else if you want). That was his forecast, Magic if he also had go-to scorer capabilities and the athleticism to guard anyone.

Also usually when these comparisons are made on high school guys, people are filling in the blanks on all the holes in their game, so its like 50% athleticism/how the guy looks and 50% the skills they expect the player to develop. For LeBron, he had the athleticism/look but also like 70-80% of the skills already developed, he already looked NBA ready is the best way to explain it.

[Doctor MJ]

We’ve all seen those high school phenoms who just utterly embarrass their classmates in high school and AAU yet are met with a level caution when it comes to projecting their careers at the highest level.

With LeBron, however, it seemed that he was EXPECTED to be, at the bare minimum, a top-10 all-time player by dozens of reputable scouts and basketball aficionados by the time he was barely old enough to drive.

His numbers were impressive, but what was it about his game that made his success a lock in a way that other prep-to-pro prodigies’ wasn’t?

Was it basically the combo of his explosive athleticism at his size with a willingness to pass?

1. Explosive athleticism in a frame that was physically stronger than almost all NBA players as a high schooler. (Personal note: I've got a similar adult frame to LeBron - without the explosive athleticism - but while he graduated high school at 240+ lbs, I was like 190 back then.) This meant that on a physical level there was remarkably little doubt about how LeBron's body would translate to the NBA.

2. Not just a willingness to pass, but an extremely high BBIQ with comfort controlling every aspect of the team's offense. BBIQ is a tricky thing to evaluate in prospects, but it's easier when a guy is given free reign to control everything on the court like LeBron was. He was allowed to demonstrate his BBIQ on a level that very few other high school players do.

[SK21209]

Well it was clear that he was a 0.01% type athlete. The type of guy that makes NBA players with above average athleticism look like guys you see playing pick-up at the park. But he was also an exceptionally gifted scorer and an exceptionally gifted playmaker. If he had the athleticism + either one of those things, he would have been a perennial All-Star. But he had both which made him pretty unprecedented, again when you consider he was an unreal athlete.

[Kingdibs19]

We’ve all seen those high school phenoms who just utterly embarrass their classmates in high school and AAU yet are met with a level caution when it comes to projecting their careers at the highest level.

With LeBron, however, it seemed that he was EXPECTED to be, at the bare minimum, a top-10 all-time player by dozens of reputable scouts and basketball aficionados by the time he was barely old enough to drive.

His numbers were impressive, but what was it about his game that made his success a lock in a way that other prep-to-pro prodigies’ wasn’t?

Was it basically the combo of his explosive athleticism at his size with a willingness to pass?

Unique question.

“ We’ve all seen those high school phenoms who just utterly embarrass their classmates in high school and AAU yet are met with a level caution when it comes to projecting their careers at the highest level.”

This is true. Even Pat Bev averaged 37ppg in high school. With those numbers he was still selected in the second round. And there is a lot of examples of other players smoking their high school competition but no one considers them a can’t miss prospect to OP’s point.

[ReggiesKnicks]

Watch the full game vs Oak Hill Academy and what Dickie V says about him as a prospect.

Watch on YouTube

;pp=ygUcbGVicm9uIGhpZ2ggc2Nob29sIGZ1bGwgZ2FtZQ%3D%3D

[Tim_Hardawayy]

We’ve all seen those high school phenoms who just utterly embarrass their classmates in high school and AAU yet are met with a level caution when it comes to projecting their careers at the highest level.

With LeBron, however, it seemed that he was EXPECTED to be, at the bare minimum, a top-10 all-time player by dozens of reputable scouts and basketball aficionados by the time he was barely old enough to drive.

His numbers were impressive, but what was it about his game that made his success a lock in a way that other prep-to-pro prodigies’ wasn’t?

Was it basically the combo of his explosive athleticism at his size with a willingness to pass?

Unique question.

“ We’ve all seen those high school phenoms who just utterly embarrass their classmates in high school and AAU yet are met with a level caution when it comes to projecting their careers at the highest level.”

This is true. Even Pat Bev averaged 37ppg in high school. With those numbers he was still selected in the second round. And there is a lot of examples of other players smoking their high school competition but no one considers them a can’t miss prospect to OP’s point.

Yeah this is a good point but its how you dominate that helps decide what you can do at the next level. You see it in other sports as well, if a guy is dominating because of his athleticism or speed etc, a "man amongst boys", you know its not going to hold up as well when he's competing against other men. With LeBron even though he had that aspect to him, you could see him doing things that didn't use any of his athleticism, that you often see 3rd/4th year NBA vets still developing.

[Fencer reregistered]

I'll add that he seems to have been very transparent as a person. People correctly expected there would be no major character problems. Conversely, nobody was surprised at minor immature/boneheaded stuff like calling himself "King James", or forgiveable screwups like "The Decision".

Consensus was spot-on in that respect as well.

[BAMAFREAK]

Athleticism
Everything, strength, speed, agility, acceleration, body control was all off the charts………in a 6’8 defined frame.
Instincts and IQ- always made the right plays
Leader- he had clearly definable leadership traits that you don’t see until guys are usually upper 20s.
Aggression - He wasn’t timid or afraid of anything. Even his media scrums were polished and confident

He had it all

Forgot to add his drive. He was always about winning and basketball. Sounds cliche but think of a lot of guys who don’t reach their potential because they wouldn’t kill to win.

The above is why I was so excited about Zion, he had nearly everything LeBron had except for the height and beginnings of a jumper. But he let everything get to him and got fat(literally) and happy.

[JRoy]

Well it was clear that he was a 0.01% type athlete. The type of guy that makes NBA players with above average athleticism look like guys you see playing pick-up at the park. But he was also an exceptionally gifted scorer and an exceptionally gifted playmaker. If he had the athleticism + either one of those things, he would have been a perennial All-Star. But he had both which made him pretty unprecedented, again when you consider he was an unreal athlete.

A combination of an all time great physical profile and terrific feel for the game, along with truly dedicated commitment to physical fitness.

I am not his biggest fan but he is one of a kind.

[jasonxxx102]

We’ve all seen those high school phenoms who just utterly embarrass their classmates in high school and AAU yet are met with a level of caution when it comes to projecting their careers at the highest level.

With LeBron, however, it seemed that he was EXPECTED to be, at the bare minimum, a top-10 all-time player by dozens of reputable scouts and basketball aficionados by the time he was barely old enough to drive.

His numbers were impressive, but what was it about his game that made his success a lock in a way that other prep-to-pro prodigies’ wasn’t?

Was it basically the combo of his explosive athleticism at his size with a willingness to pass?

He had NBA size and athleticism at 16 years old, and was already such a gifted playmaker. He was always able to see the game in ways that other players can't

LeBron was the most obvious super star talent ever.

[CumberlandPosey]

it was his readiness for me.nba player in high school.frame,size,skills,gamesmanship and floorgame was too obvious.like jerry west said : "if you cant see greatness you shouldnt be out there looking."

[Bolivar]

Watch the full game vs Oak Hill Academy and what Dickie V says about him as a prospect.

Watch on YouTube

;pp=ygUcbGVicm9uIGhpZ2ggc2Nob29sIGZ1bGwgZ2FtZQ%3D%3D

[dhsilv2]

Was it basically the combo of his explosive athleticism at his size with a willingness to pass?

I don't want to argue about Wilt. But after Wilt, there was never a more insanely NBA ready body we've ever seen, let alone at 18. Lebron's combination of size, strength, and explosiveness were 1 of 1 and still are.

The passing just made him all the more unusual. But it added that he had a legit skill at the nba level which again...you don't see with an athletic super freak.

[Charlie Sollers]

From back in the day on nbadraft.net

https://www.nbadraft.net/players/lebron-james/

NBA Comparison: Magic Johnson
Strengths: His vision and passing skills are what sets him apart. A player with his combination of size, and point guard skills is very rare. The only player to have this in the past was Magic Johnson. There are no more than 5 players in the NBA that have the vision and passing skills of LeBron. On top of all this he’s a physical specimen. The sky is truly the limit. He has developed his body to make it a great strength, he is a legit 240 pounds and has very little body fat. Has an "NBA body" at 18. He has all the gifts to play PG, but he will likely have to start at the 2 and 3 positions before he can really run a team from the point guard position. But when you have a player with his type of passing skills, you want the offense to run through him every time down the floor, making point guard his natural position. He has met and surpassed the hype every step of the way. The game just comes so easily to him, he’s the epitome of a hoops prodigy. He has changed the face of highschool athletics with Nationally televised games being carried by ESPN. He has lived up to the hype and then some every step of the way. Carmelo Anthony has a better jumpshot than LeBron, and a NCAA title under his belt. But LeBron has far superior upside.

Weaknesses: All the hype at such a young age is inconceivable. Can he stay focused and continue to work hard to improve his game? His free throw shooting must improve. Defensive intensity must get better. Right now, he’s under 70%, but this should definitely improve with experience. LeBron still tends to go for the spectacular at times when a solid play is all that’s necessary. But it’s probably nitpicking as he likes to put on a show, and usually only brings out tricks when the game is in hand. Which for him on the HS level is usually the entire game. No one has ever had to overcome this kind of hype as a highschool player.

[Lalouie]

it's his IQ

lebron wasn't "extra-ordinary" in size,,,not that i can see, as a senior in HS he was listed at 6'6. he couldn't shoot.

but everyone talking about his passing which is a unique thing in high school. it bespeaks intelligence at an early age. you don't get too many of those but you get lots of players who can jump out of the gym

lonzo is the other who got tons of ink as a highIQ passer in high school

flagg 's IQ is talked about too. you just don't see that in HS

[sashaturiaf]

He was a genetic freak. It's the same reason Shaq was the unanimous 1st pick.

Not comparing Lebron to Shaq in terms of skills or feel for the game. But all you needed was one look at the once in a generation physical tools to know they were can't miss.

[SK21209]

Wemby is the only prospect I'd put in the same ballpark as high school LeBron this century. People said Zion was at that level at 2019 but I never thought that was true. Zion was a similarly unbelievable athlete, but he had nowhere near the feel for the game or skill upside that LeBron had.

Unless you were there in 2002-2003, its really hard to understand just how hyped LeBron was as a prospect. At a time before social media had taken off.

[pipfan]

Huge LBJ hater, but it was obvious he was super elite. I have him as the 2nd best draft prospect ever, just behind KAJ. Wemby and Walton might be close (Wilt?). But it was clear he was going to be a super-duper star, due to his IQ and athletic gifts.

I honestly think he's the best athlete in human history