James gained national attention during his junior year. Prior to the start of the season, he appeared in SLAM Magazine and was lauded as possibly "the best high school basketball player in America right now" by writer Ryan Jones. With averages of 29 points, 8.3 rebounds, 5.7 assists, and 3.3 steals per game, he was again named Ohio's Mr. Basketball and selected to the All-USA First Team. Additionally, he was named the 2001–02 boys' basketball Gatorade National Player of the Year. By the time James' senior year began, he had already appeared on the covers of ESPN The Magazine and Sports Illustrated. As his following expanded, St. Vincent-St. Mary was forced to move their games and practices to James A. Rhodes Arena at the University of Akron. The Irish's regular season games were frequently attended by celebrities such as Shaquille O'Neal, with some being televised nationally on ESPN2 and regionally on pay-per-view. For the season, James averaged 31.6 points, 9.6 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 3.4 steals per game. He was named Ohio's Mr. Basketball and selected to the All-USA First Team for an unprecedented third consecutive year. He participated in three year-end high school basketball all-star games – the EA Sports Roundball Classic, the Jordan Capital Classic, and the 2003 McDonald's All-American Game.