Prep basketball: LeBron James draws crowd in N.C.

GREENSBORO, N.C. — More than 15,000 fans showed up at Greensboro Coliseum yesterday to get a look at LeBron James. He did not disappoint.

In front of the largest crowd to watch a high-school basketball game in North Carolina, the 6-foot-7, 240-pound senior scored 32 points as St. Vincent-St. Mary's (Ohio) beat Winston-Salem Reynolds 85-56.

On the floor where Michael Jordan played several games while at North Carolina, James showed why he's widely considered the likely No. 1 pick in this year's NBA draft.

After a slow start in which he was held to four points in the first quarter, James scored 11 in the second quarter as St. Vincent-St. Mary (12-0) blew open a four-point game to take 40-24 halftime lead.

James brought the crowd to its feet in the third quarter when he blocked a shot, then raced down court and slammed down an alley-oop pass.

Reynolds (10-5), the three-time defending Class 4A state champion, had hoped 6-7 senior Reyshawn Terry would slow James. But Terry, who has committed to North Carolina, got into foul trouble and scored just eight points.