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LeBron James: The Rise of a Star
He has been called the best high school basketball player ever.
He made the cover of Sports Illustrated as a junior, was featured on national television, and signed more than $100 million in promotional contracts before the end of his senior year. He became the no-doubt-about-it No. 1 pick in the NBA draft right after high school graduation.
Why the big fuss over LeBron James?
The odds were against him from the start. Born in poverty to a 16-year-old single mom, without a stable home for the first decade of his life, LeBron could have become just one more scarred product of a rough childhood in the projects.
Instead, he became the darling of the sports world—and he plays the part well.
Sportswriter David Lee Morgan, Jr. covered the phenomenon for the Akron Beacon Journal and had frequent access to LeBron and his family, coaches, teammates and best friends. He witnessed firsthand the exceptional plays on the basketball court. But he also saw LeBron develop the surprising poise with which he handled the pressure, the scrutiny and criticism, that arrived with the early onset of fame—as a circus-like atmosphere descended on this talented kid and his small parochial school in Akron, Ohio.
In this book, Morgan gives an inside look at the rise of basketball's hottest prospect, poised at the brink of superstardom. It's a story for any fan who wants to get to know LeBron better, and for anyone curious about how a high-school basketball phenom is made.
Reviews
“An intimate look at James' life and incredible basketball career, following him to the moment when he became the number-one NBA draft pick. Morgan, who covered James' high-school career for the local newspaper, draws his material from interviews with family, friends, coaches, and teammates. The result is a well-rounded, personal portrait of the young superstar, which does an excellent job of depicting the intense pressure and scrutiny James and his family had to endure when he became basketball's hottest prospect. Sixty color photographs will entice sports fans to this inspiring, well-written biography.” - Booklist
“A sympathetic look at James' life so far: the early years of instability as the child of a teenage mother; the stabilizing effect of school, sports and caring family and friends; and his rapid shift to the national forefront . . . Morgan's years covering James for the Beacon Journal have given him a depth of understanding . . . It's a story of persistence, focus and strong loyalties with appeal well beyond the ranks of sports fans.” - The Plain Dealer
“A behind-the-scenes, in-depth, touch-your-heart kind of book.” - WKBN AM Radio
“Reads like LeBron on the break--quick and controlled--with a good mix of photos . . . Along the way [you'll discover] some things that you might not know about LeBron, even if you've been following his career since he was . . . well, a kid.” - Cleveland Magazine
“The book starts out seeming like it is going to be more of the LeBron hype we have had to endure for the last two years, but then it reaches deeper . . . It's not all about becoming a basketball god. It's about imitating the professional wrestlers you loved when you were little and moving time and time again with our teenage mother . . . All in all, a decent telling of James's early life.” - News Herald
“A lively read, detailing events in James' life only half revealed by gossip and the national media . . . an easy choice for any basketball fan.” - The Gateway News
“A great read. Morgan has brought the LeBron story back into focus, [telling] where this kid came from and who he really is. I was moved.” - WTAM AM
“Selected as one of the year's best books for Reluctant Young Adult Readers.” - American Library Association
“Doesn't weigh readers down with scores and statistics. Through interviews with those who knew LeBron while he was growing up (poor but loved in Akron, OH), the author draws a portrait of a boy who almost always had that special spark that defines him in the NBA today. Two inserts of color photographs depict the athlete from toddlerhood to recent NBA draftee, and most show him with his recognizable smile-and truly having fun with his gift. Morgan doesn't gloss over the controversy that surrounded the player when he accepted gifts as an amateur, a violation of the high school rules. He just comes across as a typical teen who sometimes screws up, albeit one with a prodigious talent. Demand for all things LeBron James may soon overtake demand for all things Michael Jordan, just as LeBron's statistics are rivaling those of a young Michael.” - School Library Journal
About David Morgan
David Lee Morgan, Jr. has been a sports reporter for the Akron Beacon Journal since 1995. He has won several awards for his coverage of high school sports, including the James A. Sutherland Award, given to the top “rookie” reporter in Northeast Ohio. He is a former high school and collegiate athlete.
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