{"product_id":"lebron-james-the-rise-of-a-star-9781886228740","title":"Lebron James: The Rise of a Star","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\"A well-rounded, personal portrait of the young superstar\"\u003c\/strong\u003e -- Booklist\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAn up-close look at young LeBron James when he was basketball's hottest prospect, poised at the brink of superstardom. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSportswriter David Lee Morgan covered the LeBron phenomenon for the Akron Beacon Journal starting with LeBron's freshman year in high school and had unequaled access to LeBron, his family, and his close friends. He saw the exceptional play on the basketball court and the surprising poise with which LeBron has handled the pressure, the scrutiny, the criticism that arrived with the early onset of fame.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe odds were against James 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHe was 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. It was no surprise when he became the no-doubt-about-it No. 1 pick in the NBA draft right after high school graduation.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is 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. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eMorgan, David:\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e - David Lee Morgan, Jr. was a sports reporter for the Akron Beacon Journal from 1995 to 2010, where he 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.","brand":"Gray \u0026 Company Publishers","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50642041372946,"sku":"9781886228740","price":12.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_430095ea-3959-4e68-8713-e879574974ca.jpg?v=1733053667","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/lebron-james-the-rise-of-a-star-9781886228740","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}