TIME LINE Career highlights

Dec. 30, 1984 -- James is born in Akron, the only child of teenage mom, Gloria James. He shares the same birth date with golfer Tiger Woods, who is nine years older.
Dec. 3, 1999 -- A 6-foot-3 freshman, he scores 15 points in his first varsity game at Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary High School.
March 25, 2000 -- St. Vincent-St. Mary completes perfect 27-0 season by winning Division III state championship.
Nov. 28, 2000 -- Now 6-foot-7, 225 pounds, James is named All-Ohio in football as a wide receiver. It's his last season on the field as he gives up the sport to concentrate on basketball.
March 21, 2001 -- Becomes first sophomore to be named Ohio's Mr. Basketball after averaging 25.6 points, 7.5 rebounds, 7.0 assists per game.
March 24, 2001 -- Wins his second straight Division III state title.
April 10, 2001 -- Named to USA Today's All-American team, the first sophomore to make the team.
January 2002 -- Profiled for the first time in national feature story by The Associated Press.
February 2002 -- Becomes first underclass basketball player ever to appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated. James' photo appeared under the heading "The Chosen One."
March 13, 2002 -- The largest crowd ever to witness a high school basketball game in Ohio -- 20,562 -- packed Gund Arena to see James in the boys high school regional tournament semifinals.
March 19, 2002 -- Is voted player of the year on the 2001-2002 Associated Press Division II All-Ohio high school basketball team.
March 20, 2002 -- Unanimously named Ohio's Mr. Basketball for a second straight season, becoming just the third two-time winner of the top individual honor for a high school hoopster.
March 23, 2002 -- James and his No. 1 Akron St. Vincent St. Mary are denied a third straight state championship with 71-63 loss against St. Bernard Roger Bacon.
April 17, 2002 -- Becomes the first high school junior to become Gatorade's national basketball player of the year in the award's 17-year history.
May 8, 2002 -- Named USA Today's boys high school basketball player of the year.
May 28, 2002 -- NBA fines Cavs $150,000 and suspended then-coach John Lucas for two games for including James in a voluntary workout for players at Gund Arena.
June 2002 -- Breaks left wrist during a summer AAU game in Chicago; recovers eight weeks later.
October 2002 -- St. Vincent-St. Mary announces James and teammates will go on five-city tour to play top teams in the country, causing some to question whether the school was overexposing James.
Jan. 27, 2003 -- Ohio High School Athletic Association clears James of any wrongdoing following a two-week investigation to determine if he had violated state amateur bylaws by accepting a Hummer H2 as a gift.
Jan. 31, 2003 -- OHSAA rules James ineligible as an amateur because he accepted free sports jerseys, temporarily ending the celebrated senior's high school career.
Feb. 5, 2003 -- Summit County Judge James R. Williams issues temporary restraining order that allows James to resume playing after he serves a two-game suspension.
Feb. 8, 2003 -- Playing for the first time since his eligibility is restored, James scores career-high 52 points in Prime Time Shootout at Trenton, N.J.
Feb. 24, 2003 -- St. Vincent-St. Mary retires James' white-green-and-gold home No. 23 jersey.
Feb. 27, 2003 -- Selected as a member of the 2003 McDonald's All-American team.
March 17, 2003 -- Named AP player of the year in Division II.
March 19, 2003 -- Becomes Ohio's most honored high school basketball player when he's named AP Mr. Basketball for third straight year.
March 23, 2003 -- In his final high school game, leads St. Vincent-St. Mary to its third state championship.
April 25, 2003 -- James declares himself eligible for the NBA draft.
May 21, 2003 -- Signs $90 million contract with Nike and multiyear deal with Upper Deck trading cards.
May 22, 2003 -- Cleveland Cavaliers win NBA draft lottery and the rights to select James.
June 26, 2003 -- Cleveland picks James, whose arrival triggers unprecedented season-ticket sales for the Cavaliers.
July 3, 2003 -- Signs three-year, $12.96 million rookie contract with Cavaliers.
July 8, 2003 -- Racks up 14 points, seven rebounds and six assists before 15,000 fans in pro basketball debut against Orlando Magic in summer league.
July 16, 2003 -- Shares inaugural Gatorade national high school athlete of the year award with girls winner Allyson Felix, a sprinter from Los Angeles.
Aug. 21, 2003 -- Signs six-year, multimillion dollar marketing deal with the Coca-Cola Co. to be a key endorser of Sprite and Powerade.
Oct. 8, 2003 -- Makes his professional debut, scoring eight points with three rebounds and seven assists in Cleveland's 100-96 win over the Detroit Pistons.