James was born on December 30, 1984 in Akron, Ohio to a 16-year-old mother, Gloria Marie James, who raised him on her own.[1][2]:22 Growing up, life was often a struggle for the James family, as they moved from apartment to apartment in the seedier neighborhoods of Akron while James' mother struggled to find steady work.[3] Realizing he would be better off with a more stable family environment, Gloria allowed James to move in with the family of Frank Walker, a local youth football coach, who introduced him to basketball when he was nine years old.[2]:23
As a youth, James played Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) basketball for the Northeast Ohio Shooting Stars.[3] The team enjoyed success on a local and national level, led by James and his friends Sian Cotton, Dru Joyce III, and Willie McGee.[2]:24Inseparable, they dubbed themselves the "Fab Four" and promised each other they would attend high school together.[2]:27 In a move that stirred local controversy, they chose to attend St. Vincent–St. Mary High School, a largely white private school.[4][5]
