LeBron James remains eligible

OHIO HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION NEWS RELEASE
(January 27, 2003)

OHSAA FINDS NO VIOLATIONS IN JAMES AMATEUR STATUS INVESTIGATION

COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Ohio High School Athletic Association has completed its investigation centering on the eligibility of Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary senior basketball player LeBron James. Commissioner Clair Muscaro has announced that no violations of the OHSAA amateur bylaws as currently written have been found, and, therefore, James continues to be eligible insofar as his amateur status is concerned. Officials at St. Vincent-St. Mary were informed of this decision earlier today.

The two-week investigation centered around a vehicle which was allegedly given to the student-athlete by his mother. The nature of this transaction has been the subject of much speculation.

“In working with the attorney for the James family and the OHSAA attorney, I was shown official business records from the bank and the dealership which established that the financing and acquisition of the vehicle were procured by the student-athlete’s mother alone,” Muscaro said. “Accordingly, this type of transaction is not a violation of the OHSAA bylaws on amateurism.”

Because of confidentiality concerns, Muscaro said no further information on the documents he reviewed will be released.

“The OHSAA bylaws on amateurism differ significantly from those of other amateur organizations such as the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA),” Muscaro said. “We regularly review our constitution and bylaws, and we certainly would include an evaluation of our rules on amateurism as part of that review and would take any and all recommendations to the member schools following our evaluation. However, as our bylaws direct, our member schools make all final decisions regarding possible changes.”

The Ohio High School Athletic Association is a voluntary, not-for-profit association of public and non-public high schools and 7th-8th grade schools that was organized in 1906. The mission of the OHSAA is to regulate, supervise and administer interscholastic athletic competition and tournaments in a fair and equitable manner. Membership includes over 800 high school and 800 7th-8th grade schools, representing over 300,000 participants. The OHSAA receives no tax money and does not charge fees to its member schools.

 

Wow what a joke. They know they don't make any money with the kid banned.

 

He'd have been ineligible by NCAA rules, but it would've taken 5 years for them to decide the issue.

 

The NCAA would of banned him even if the car was a Bronco.

 

depends on what school he went to.

 

Enough of this punk already. What's the world come to when national media is putting so much emphasis on a high school basketball player? He'll be just another NBA thug.