LeBron James unquestionably stands as the prime contender for the greatest ever. What sets him apart from his competition is his unique journey to the NBA. Unlike other names on the GOAT list, he made the NBA leap directly from high school. Surprisingly, his lack of college experience didn’t diminish the hype surrounding his name. On the contrary, it catapulted his marketability, with even global celebrities attending his high school games. During the time, James was leading the charge for St. Vincent-St. Mary High School, becoming the talk of high school basketball circles in the early 2000s. His impact was profound, propelling his team to the coveted No. 1 spot in the nation and securing multiple state championships.
Yet, while LeBron and some of his teammates basked in the limelight and pursued their NBA dreams, not everyone from that talented squad achieved their NBA aspirations. Interestingly, a few continued their journey through high school and beyond, while others took an entirely different path in life.
What’re high school teammates of LeBron James doing now?
Willie McGee, Romeo Travis, and Dru Joyce III extended their passion for basketball well beyond their high school days. Over the years, they have carved out impressive roles in the sport as coaches and directors. Conversely, Sian Cotton embarked on a different journey, initially exploring football before finding his niche in the music industry. What’s fascinating is how these diverse paths have led many of them to professional connections with LeBron James.
Since his high school graduation, Willie McGee has charted a highly successful career in coaching. In 2008, he returned to St. Vincent-St. Mary, as assistant coach before eventually rising to become the school’s Athletic Director. During his tenure, McGee simultaneously coached boys’ basketball at Akron East High School starting in 2015. Furthermore, he expanded his coaching experience through the University of Akron and Chowan University. After seven years as Athletic Director, McGee made a transition by accepting a position with the LeBron James Family Foundation.
Romeo Travis took charge of his basketball career, ultimately decorating it overseas. He transitioned to playing for the University of Akron, where he achieved the honor of becoming the school’s all-time leader in blocks. Following his college career, Travis took his talents overseas. He embarked on a 14-year basketball odyssey in countries like Croatia, Russia, the Philippines, Spain, Germany, Italy, Ukraine, Israel, and France. Along the way, he amassed multiple championships, including the Balkan League title in 2012 and the French Pro A League championship in 2018. Furthermore, he secured MVP honors in multiple leagues that he played in. After hanging his jersey in 2021, Travis has returned to St. Vincent-St. Mary as an assistant coach.
Similarly, Dru Joyce III embarked on a four-year academic and athletic journey at the University of Akron. During his time, he left an indelible mark by setting the school’s record for assists. After his collegiate career, Joyce III transitioned to a successful playing career overseas, spending a remarkable 12 seasons playing in Germany, with brief stints in France and Belarus. Notably, during this period, he held the feat of all-time assists record in the Basketball Bundesliga at one point in time. In 2019, Joyce III made a seamless transition into coaching. He was an assistant coach at Cleveland State University before becoming head coach at Duquesne in 2022.
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Sian Cotton was introduced to basketball by LeBron James himself. James recognized Sian’s potential due to his size and impressive defensive skills. Despite finding basketball success, Cotton quickly transitioned to college football as a defensive tackle at The Ohio State University. Despite facing limited playing time during his initial two seasons, Cotton made a significant move by transferring to Youngstown State and then to NAIA Walsh University. After bidding farewell to the gridiron, Cotton redirected his energy toward music. Notably, rap music. In 2013, one of Cotton’s songs earned a place on the NBA 2K14 OST. It was personally curated by LeBron James.
James’ HS teammates knew he would not retire
After Los Angeles Laker‘s 2023 playoff exit, LeBron James gave shocking intel to the entire NBA world. In the post-game conference, James hinted at the possibility of a retirement from basketball. For a brief time in the future, fans walked with heavy hearts. While there were many speculations by analysts and NBA experts on the narrative, a singular group came as the most prominent sigh of relief: James’ “Fab 5” high school teammates. Despite James’ stance, the group believed that James was personally not ready to hang up his basketball shoes just yet.
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Travis, in particular, shared a recent conversation with LeBron. He shared that he spoke with James just a day ago when James was already hitting the gym. Travis also pointed out that LeBron’s desire to play alongside Bronny is a significant factor that makes him skeptical of the retirement hints. McGee and Cotton echoed similar sentiments, indicating that they share Travis’s perspective on LeBron’s future in basketball.
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