The Journey of LeBron James and St. Vincent-St. Mary’s Fab Five

Led by Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James, St. Vincent-St. Mary High School became the epicenter of high school basketball in the early 2000s. With James at the helm, the team became the No. 1 ranked high school basketball team in the country, winning three state championships. Known as “The Fab Five,” in homage to the iconic University of Michigan squad from the early ‘90s, James and his childhood friends garnered significant media attention, with James emerging as arguably the greatest high school basketball star of all time.

LeBron James made the leap directly from high school to the NBA, being drafted No. 1 overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2003. His legendary NBA career includes four championships, four MVP awards, and becoming the NBA’s all-time leading scorer.

While none of his former St. Vincent-St. Mary teammates reached the NBA, each has forged a successful path in various fields. Here’s a closer look at the other members of the famed Fab Five.

Dru Joyce III

Known as Lil’ Dru, Joyce III was the starting point guard for St. Vincent-St. Mary. After high school, he enjoyed a successful 12-season playing career overseas, primarily in Germany, with stints in France and Belarus. Following his retirement in 2019, Joyce III transitioned into coaching, first as an assistant coach at Cleveland State University, then as the associate head coach at Duquesne University in 2022. Notably, Duquesne’s head coach, Keith Dambrot, also coached Joyce, James, and the Fab Five at St. Vincent-St. Mary.

Sian Cotton

The team’s big man, Cotton, pursued college football at The Ohio State University as a defensive tackle. After limited playtime in his first two seasons, he transferred to Youngstown State and then NAIA Walsh University, where he completed his football career. Post-football, Cotton turned to music, with one of his songs featured on the NBA 2K14 video game soundtrack, curated by LeBron James.

Willie McGee

Following high school, McGee played football at Fairmont State University. After graduating in 2008, he returned to St. Vincent-St. Mary as an assistant coach and eventually became the Athletic Director. He also coached boys’ basketball at Akron East High School from 2015, with subsequent coaching roles at the University of Akron and Chowan University. In 2016, McGee founded the D.A.L.E program, an organization dedicated to empowering disabled and disadvantaged local children through education and athletics. He currently works for the LeBron James Family Foundation.

Romeo Travis

Travis pursued basketball post-high school, playing at the University of Akron where he became the school’s all-time leader in blocks. He then enjoyed a 14-year professional career overseas, playing in Spain, Germany, Italy, Croatia, Russia, the Philippines, Ukraine, Israel, and France. Travis won championships in the Balkan League (2012) and the French Pro A League (2018), where he was also named MVP. After retiring in 2021, he returned to St. Vincent-St. Mary as an assistant coach.

The Fab Five of St. Vincent-St. Mary, led by LeBron James, have each carved unique and successful paths post-high school. While James’s NBA achievements are legendary, his former teammates have also made significant contributions in sports, coaching, music, and community service. Their journeys exemplify the diverse ways in which athletic talent and dedication can translate into lasting success across various fields.