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In the early 2000s, St. Vincent-St. Mary High School, led by LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers, rose to prominence as the top high school basketball team, clinching three state championships. Dubbed “The Fab Five” in a nod to the University of Michigan’s iconic team from the ’90s, James and his childhood pals captivated audiences as rising stars. James, hailed as “The Chosen One,” commanded attention with his exceptional skills and received substantial media coverage even as a teenager.
James made history by transitioning directly from high school to the pros, getting selected as the first pick by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2003. His remarkable NBA journey includes four championships, four MVP titles, and the distinction of being the league’s all-time leading scorer.
Although James’ former St. Vincent-St. Mary teammates didn’t make it to the NBA, they paved their own paths to success in various fields.
So, where are the members of The Fab Five now?
Here’s a glimpse into the current whereabouts of the other individuals who were part of the celebrated high school basketball team.
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Dru Joyce III, also known as Lil’ Dru, was the starting point guard at St. Vincent-St. Mary before embarking on a successful playing career overseas. Spending 12 seasons in Europe, mostly in Germany, with stints in France and Belarus.
After retiring from playing in 2019, Joyce III transitioned to coaching. He started as an assistant coach at Cleveland State University before becoming the associate head coach at Duquesne in 2022, where he was reunited with his former high school coach Keith Dambrot.
Sian Cotton, the team’s big man, pursued college football at The Ohio State University as a defensive tackle. After transferring to Youngstown State and then to NAIA Walsh University, he retired from football and focused on his love for music. In 2013, one of Cotton’s songs was featured on the NBA 2K14 video game soundtrack curated by James.
Willie McGee, after playing football at Fairmont State University, returned to St. Vincent-St. Mary as an assistant coach before becoming the Athletic Director. In addition to coaching basketball at Akron East High School and the University of Akron, McGee founded the D.A.L.E program, dedicated to helping disabled and disadvantaged children.
Romeo Travis continued his basketball career at the University of Akron, where he excelled as the all-time leader in blocks. Travis then played professionally overseas in various countries, winning championships in the Balkan League and the French Pro A League where he also earned the league MVP title in 2018. He last played for Limoges CSP in France in 2021.