James regains temporary eligibility

AKRON, Ohio -- LeBron James can put his high school jersey back on for at least a few more games.

The basketball superstar was cleared to play Wednesday by a judge who blocked a ruling that stripped him of his eligibility for accepting two free sports jerseys worth a total of $845.

"It confirms our belief that he never should have been suspended," said James' attorney, Fred Nance.

The 18-year-old senior, expected to be the No. 1 pick in this year's NBA draft, still must sit out at least one more game, and his eligibility remains in question pending another court hearing Feb. 19.

Summit County Judge James Williams issued a temporary restraining order to the Ohio High School Athletic Association ruling last week. Williams said James would suffer "immediate and irreparable injury" without the order.

St. Vincent-St. Mary was allowed to decide what game James will miss, and it picked the one on Feb. 23, four days after the hearing when Williams will grant a permanent injunction or go to trial.

James already missed one game after Clair Muscaro, commissioner of the athletic association, ruled Friday that James broke an amateur bylaw "by capitalizing on athletic fame by receiving money or gifts of monetary value."

The association found that a Cleveland clothing store gave James the Gale Sayers and Wes Unseld retro jerseys in exchange for James posing for pictures to be displayed on its walls.

The Fighting Irish, No. 1 in the USA Today rankings for the fourth straight week, have four games left before the playoffs. They play Saturday in Trenton, N.J.

Lawyers for the athletic association and James presented their arguments to the judge during a one-hour hearing.