A few days after apparently getting two free "throwback" jerseys worth $845 at a local clothing store, LeBron James, the nation's top high school player and projeced first overall pick in the upcoming NBA Draft, has been ruled ineligible by The Ohio High School Athletic Association for the rest of the season.

Ohio High School Athletic Association bylaws state that an athlete forfeits his or her amateur status by "capitalizing on athletic fame by receiving money or gifts of monetary value."

"We're going to abide by the ruling," said coach Dru Joyce, who said he could not comment on a possible appeal. "We think that maybe there are some facts, that I don't know what they are, that could change things. But the bottom line is, that we're moving on as a team."

After attending a local high school game last weekend, James and some friends visited the clothing store "Next," where he picked out two jerseys -- one of Chicago Bears Hall of Famer Gale Sayers, the other of Washington Bullets center Wes Unseld.

The Sayers jersey costs $395; the Unseld jersey, $450.

Store manager Derrick Craig said the store's owner gave the jerseys to James for free.

"We get celebrities in here all the time," said Craig, who would not identify the owner. "They spend a lot of money and sometimes you just got to give them some love."

Goldring said OHSAA rules stipulate that athletes can't receive any kind of apparel worth more than $100.

And the situation might not just stop with his high school eligability being removed should James decide not to jump directly to the NBA.

"There could be possible eligibility ramifications with his participation in an NCAA school," said Bill Saum, a director in the NCAA's enforcement department. "The broad scope is, an athlete may not receive a benefit because of his athletic talent. We would have to see in our investigation if that's why he received these jerseys."

If James does not appeal his high school basketball year would be over, although he would still be able to participate in the Roundball Classic at the United Center in Chicago.  What he would not be able to participate in, however, would be the McDonalds High School game, argubly the most popular high school exhibition of them all.