The King came to Queens bearing gifts for young basketball stars at Middle Village’s Christ the King High School.
LeBron James surprised members of Christ the King’s men’s and women’s basketball programs with a Sept. 4 visit to the campus. According to Sports Illustrated, the NBA star presented the players with new gear — including pairs of Nike Zoom LeBron 3 PE sneakers — as well as a renovated locker room.
The new Los Angeles Laker star, who most recently took his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers to the NBA Finals for a fourth consecutive year, has long supported Christ the King High School and its vaunted basketball program. Christ the King’s men’s team captured six city championships in the last decade; both men’s and women’s teams have produced some of the nation’s best basketball players through the years, such as Lamar Odom, Chamique Holdsclaw and Sue Bird.
Needless to say, the young athletes lost their minds when James walked into the Christ the King gym, as shown in a video on Sports Illustrated’s Twitter account. Christ the King Coach Joe Arbitello and other school officials and players led James on a tour of the newly renovated locker rooms, projects that James had funded.
“Christ the King was excited to have LeBron James visit the school today sporting the Nike Zoom LeBron 3 Christ the King PE, which he gave a pair to each member of the Men’s and Women’s Varsity Basketball teams,” according to the CK Campus Facebook page. “He was also on hand for the unveiling of the new Men’s and Women’s Locker Rooms, which LeBron paid for and helped design. Thank you for generosity!!!”
James’ visit coincided with a limited release of the Nike Zoom LeBron 3 PE sneakers, which according to Shoe Collector sold out in under a minute. New, unworn pairs of the sneakers have been advertised for sale on eBay for as much as $1,600.
