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No. 3: 18-year-old LeBron James takes on Mentor
LeBron James had just turned 18 when he set a then-school record with a 50-point performance over Mentor High. Known for his heavy dunks and flashy passes, James was not much of a knockdown shooter. In that win, he proved how multifaceted his game was. James knocked down 11 3-pointers at an astonishing 64.7% rate.
Eleven 3-pointers, accompanied by nine rebounds and only two assists, made it clear James did not need to pass. This amazing accuracy showed a nation just how talented LeBron James was.
For the man who runs his game so dominantly in the key, he did not even need to step inside to get his points. The game served notice to his future opponents: There is no space on the court Lebron James can not make a play from.
No. 2: LeBron James' performance in the 2003 McDonald’s All-American Game
Landing second is a game that capped off James' senior year after he averaged 31.6 points, 9.6 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 3.4 steals a game. James’ 2003 McDonald’s All-American performance was so smooth it looked like a scripted basketball movie.
The kid from Akron dropped 27 points in a theatrical masterpiece of unbelievable midair moves, spinning dunks and showtime blocks that kept a sold-out crowd roaring. The importance of this game bleeds deeper, for his participation meant something greater — representing the end of his high school days as his next step would be into the NBA.
His performance earned him a standing ovation as he checked out of the game. NCAA or not, James went on to become the first overall pick in the 2003 NBA draft.
No. 1: St. Vincent-St. Mary vs. Westchester
In the top spot is James' career-best 52-point game. St. Vincent-St. Mary beat the nation's seventh-ranked team, Los Angeles’ Westchester High, 78-52.
You read that correctly. In a game against a squad ranked seventh in the nation, LeBron James scored as many points as the entire opposing team. And it wasn't just any team. The ’02-’03 Comets included two future NBA players: Trevor Ariza and Bobby Brown.
Matching the opposing team's score is an insane feat in and of itself, but to do it against a nationally ranked team holding two future NBA players is mind-boggling. The young star from Akron was three rebounds away from a double-double in one of the hardest matchups of his high school career.
LeBron James, from day one, has proven one thing for sure: The scarier his opponents are, the scarier he gets.
