A top HS football prospect, LeBron says friends made him choose basketball instead

Photo from LeBron James’ Instagram

It’s undeniable that LeBron James possesses an uncanny combination of size, skill, strength and speed.

Standing at 6-foot-8 and weighing 250 lbs, “The King” is still a freight train on the basketball court for the Los Angeles Lakers even at 35-years-old

James always had this freakish nature in him even during his high school days at St.Vincent-St. Mary in Akron, Ohio and this God-given gift and his talent allowed him to dominate both the parquet floor and gridiron.

Although James is considered as one of the greatest basketball players ever, there’s still that big question of what if he decided to pursue his career in american football instead.

The three-time NBA champion hasn’t given much explanation regarding the matter, but the four-time MVP finally told the major reason behind it Sunday on his Instagram.

James said that he would’ve loved to play football in his senior year but his friends and former high school basketball teammates Sian Cotton, Romeo Travis, Dru Joyce, Willie D. McGee, Brandon Weems, and Frankie Walker made him turn his full attention to basketball instead.

“Didn’t even play my senior year, I wanted to so badly, because my boys wouldn’t let me,” wrote James on Instagram that came with a picture of a newspaper clipping about him being the No. 1 high school prospect in the state of Ohio during that time.

“They said if I tried to step on a football field my senior year, they would jump (kick my ass) me every day of practice until I had enough! Think I made a smart decision!” added James, who reportedly got scholarship offers from football powerhouses like Ohio State, Florida State, Florida, Notre Dame, and University of Southern California.

James’ solid frame allowed him to terrorize defenses as a wide receiver, racking up 57 receptions for 1,160 yards and 16 touchdowns during his junior year, according to NFL.com.

Despite his flourishing football career, it was basketball that won him over in the end and the rest is history.