Kristian Ferrell
LeBron James is known as one of the greatest basketball players of all time, but before he rose to fame in the NBA, he had a rival in high school. Lenny Cooke, born in 1982 in New Jersey, was also a highly regarded young basketball player and at one point was ranked higher than LeBron in 2001. Cooke averaged impressive stats in his junior year of high school and was considered one of the top recruits in the country, along with contemporaries like LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, and Amar'e Stoudemire. While Cooke's career took a different path, with him never making it to the NBA, his rivalry with LeBron James during their high school years is an intriguing part of basketball history.
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What You'll Learn
Lenny Cooke was ranked higher than LeBron James in 2001
Lenny Cooke was a highly regarded high school basketball player. At one point, he was considered one of the top recruits in the country, along with contemporaries like LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, and Amar'e Stoudemire. In 2001, Cooke was ranked higher than LeBron James, who was a relatively unknown prospect from "nowhere". ESPN ranked Cooke as the second-best senior in his class, behind Anthony and ahead of future NBA players like Stoudemire, Raymond Felton, and Chris Bosh.
LeBron James and Lenny Cooke had a notable rivalry during their high school years. In 2001, Cooke was the defending camp MVP at the ABCD Camp, while James was a lesser-known prospect from Akron, Ohio. At the camp, James effectively supplanted Cooke as the most highly regarded prospect in the country. Cooke averaged 16.5 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.1 steals, and 0.9 blocks, while James showcased his all-around game with advanced dribbling and passing skills.
In his junior year of high school, Cooke averaged 25 points, 10 rebounds, two steals, and two blocks per game. He continued his strong performance into his senior year, averaging 31.5 points in the first eight games. However, when he turned 19 in 2001, Cooke encountered academic eligibility issues that prevented him from continuing his high school basketball career.
On the other hand, LeBron James left high school as one of the most hyped prospects in NBA history. As a sophomore, James averaged 25.3 points, 7.4 rebounds, 5.5 assists, and 3.7 steals per game, showcasing his all-around talent. During the summer before his junior year, James was featured in Slam magazine, with writer Ryan Jones calling the 16-year-old James "[possibly] the best high school basketball player in America."
While Cooke had a successful high school career, his path diverged from that of his contemporaries. He never made it to the NBA, despite coming close when he played for the Boston Celtics' summer league team in 2003. In contrast, James went on to become one of the greatest players in NBA history, signing a seven-year, $90 million deal with Nike before even stepping foot in a professional game.
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LeBron James was part of St. Vincent-St. Mary High School's Fab Five
LeBron James is one of the most well-known basketball players in the world. However, before he rose to fame, he was part of the St. Vincent-St. Mary High School's Fab Five. The team included James, Dru Joyce III (or Lil' Dru), Sian Cotton, Willie McGee, and Romeo Travis.
James and his teammates have a special bond, which was depicted in the 2008 movie "More Than a Game". The movie followed the team's journey to winning the Ohio state championship in 2003 and how they navigated through several controversies, such as James being gifted expensive throwback jerseys and his mother's purchase of a new Hummer. The "Fab Five" powered through these obstacles, winning the state championship and immortalizing themselves in Northeast Ohio history.
Joyce III was the starting point guard for St. Vincent-St. Mary. After high school, he went on to play overseas for 12 seasons, mostly in Germany, with stints in France and Belarus. He then became an assistant coach at Cleveland State University and later joined Duquesne as the team's associate head coach in 2022.
Travis also pursued basketball after high school, playing at the University of Akron and becoming the school's all-time leader in blocks. He then played professionally overseas for 14 years in various countries, including Spain, Germany, and France, winning championships in the Balkan League and the French Pro A League. After retiring in 2021, Travis returned to St. Vincent-St. Mary as an assistant coach.
While none of James' other St. Vincent-St. Mary teammates made it to the NBA, they have each found success in different fields. James himself graduated from St. Vincent-St. Mary in 2003 and immediately entered the NBA draft, where he was selected as the first pick by the Cleveland Cavaliers.
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LeBron James was the only member of the Fab Five to make it to the NBA
LeBron James is one of the greatest basketball players of all time, rivalled only by the likes of Michael Jordan. James' legacy of excellence began at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School in Akron, Ohio, where he led his team to victory in the 2003 Ohio State Championships. James and his teammates, known as "The Fab Five", became a cultural phenomenon in their own right, with James being dubbed "The Chosen One".
James was the standout player of the Fab Five, and the only one to make it to the NBA. In 2003, he was drafted as the number one pick by the Cleveland Cavaliers, beginning a legendary NBA career that would see him become the league's all-time leading scorer. James' high school teammates were also talented players, with some going on to play basketball at the University of Akron and overseas. However, none of them would reach the same heights as James.
The Fab Five's story is told in the upcoming Peacock film, "Shooting Stars". The film stars Marquis "Mookie" Cook as a young LeBron James, with Caleb McLaughlin portraying the son of James' close friend and teammate, Dru Joyce III. Joyce, a former professional player himself, is now an associate head coach for the men's team at Duquesne Dukes. Another Fab Five member, Romeo Travis, played alongside James at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School and contributed to two state championship-winning teams. Travis went on to play professionally overseas for 14 years, winning championships in the Balkan League and the French Pro A League.
While James was the only member of the Fab Five to make it to the NBA, his teammates certainly made their mark on the sport. They benefited from the prep school scene, which has since changed the game. Today's top players are more likely to attend specialty camps and prep schools, playing alongside other future NBA players. This has reduced the shine on local high school players, and we may never again see a player like James dominate at the high school level.
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LeBron James was drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2003
LeBron Raymone James Sr., nicknamed "King James", is an American professional basketball player. In 2003, he was drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers as the first overall pick of the NBA draft.
James was born on December 30, 1984, and had already established himself as a highly-rated young basketball player by the time he was in high school. In fact, at one point, he was considered one of the top high school recruits in the country, along with rival contemporaries like Lenny Cooke, Carmelo Anthony, and Amar'e Stoudemire.
Lenny Cooke, who was born in 1982, was also a highly regarded young basketball player in high school and was ranked higher than LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony in 2001. Cooke was 6 feet 4 inches tall by the 8th grade and played for Franklin K. Lane High School in Brooklyn, New York City. However, he struggled academically and had to repeat the 9th grade.
After high school, James went on to be selected by his hometown team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, as the first overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft. The Cavaliers had won the NBA Lottery that year and had the right to draft James first overall. This was a significant moment for the Cavaliers franchise, as they had not had the first overall pick since 1986. James himself expressed his excitement at being drafted by the Cavaliers, saying, "I'm excited to be a Cavalier."
James made an immediate impact in his first regular-season game for the Cavaliers, scoring 25 points against the Sacramento Kings. This set an NBA record for the most points scored by a prep-to-pro player in their debut performance. He went on to have a successful rookie season, becoming the first Cavalier to receive the NBA Rookie of the Year Award. James' leadership and talent helped the Cavaliers qualify for the playoffs for the first time since 1998.
Over the years, James has had a illustrious career with the Cavaliers and other teams, becoming the NBA's all-time leading scorer and winning four NBA championships from ten NBA Finals appearances. He has also achieved numerous individual honors, including four NBA MVP awards, three All-Star Game MVP awards, and the inaugural NBA Cup MVP.
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Lenny Cooke never played in the NBA
Lenny Cooke, born on April 29, 1982, in Atlantic City, New Jersey, was a highly regarded high school basketball player. At one point, he was considered one of the top recruits in the country, ranked second by ESPN in his class, ahead of future NBA players like Amar'e Stoudemire, Raymond Felton, and Chris Bosh. He was even ranked higher than LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony in 2001.
However, Cooke's academic struggles and eligibility issues impacted his basketball career. He struggled academically in high school and was academically ineligible to play during his senior year. Despite this setback, he had multiple college basketball options, including North Carolina, Seton Hall, and St. John's. Cooke, however, chose to bypass college and declare for the 2002 NBA draft, ending his eligibility for college basketball.
Cooke's decision to forgo college may have been influenced by agents promising that several NBA teams were seriously considering him. Unfortunately, injuries and poor decisions intervened, and he never realized his presumed destiny of making it to the NBA. The closest he came to playing in the NBA was when he was invited to play for the Boston Celtics' summer league team in 2003, but he did not get playing time when his team faced the Cleveland Cavaliers' summer league squad featuring LeBron James.
In 2005, the NBA changed its rules to prevent players from entering the league directly from high school, requiring them to be at least 19 years old and one year removed from high school graduation. Cooke's career was also cut short by injuries, as he blew out his Achilles tendon in 2006, ending his playing days. While he never made it to the NBA, Cooke's story is documented in the 2013 film "Lenny Cooke," which chronicles his rise, fall, and life after basketball.
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Frequently asked questions
Lenny Cooke was a rival of LeBron James in high school basketball. Cooke was a highly regarded young basketball player and at one point was considered one of the top recruits in the country, along with contemporaries like LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, and Amar'e Stoudemire.
Cooke averaged 25 points, 10 rebounds, two steals, and two blocks per game in his junior year of high school. He was ranked higher than LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony in 2001.
No, he did not. Cooke played in the Philippine Basketball Association during the 2003–04 basketball season but that was the closest he came to playing in the NBA.
