AKRON, OHIO – LeBron James took the court against some of the country’s top college players in his hometown and – surprise, surprise – he stayed on the court for a while.

He won five consecutive games before his team lost.

The amazing part of watching James is that he never took a single play off while going up against guys like Wes Matthews, Brook Lopez, Ty Lawson, Jeremy Pargo and other top college guys.

Two players stood out from a college crop that also included Chris Douglass-Roberts, Drew Neitzel (Michigan State), Scottie Reynolds (Villanova), Patrick Christopher (Cal), Courtney Lee (Western Kentucky), JaJuan Smith (Tennessee), Hasheem Thabeeet and Jeff Adrien (UConn), Brook and Robin Lopez (Stanford), Alex Maric (Nebraska), Shaun Pruitt (Illinois) and Othello Hunter (Ohio State).

Xavier’s pint-sized point guard Drew Lavender and Rider big man Jason Thompson.

Lavender was terrific and was throwing pinpoint passes to James for easy hoops. The two seemed to have a good rapport – and for good reason. James grew up in Akron – about 90 minutes down the road from Lavender’s hometown of Columbus.

``We’ve know each other’s games,” Lavender said. “We’ve played against each other growing up since we were little.”

Thompson’s play was a shock to college coaches and NBA scouts in attendance. He wasted little time scoring over James and also was solid defensively on the NBA star.

Thompson averaged 20.1 points and 10.1 boards at Rider last year, but the senior-to-be is still a virtual unknown.

``I’ve known LeBron,” Thompson said. “I know a couple of his relatives and we call each other cousins. We had a good little battle. A couple of guys didn’t want to guard him.”

VIRGINIA TECH GUARD HEADING ELSEWHERE

Virginia Tech freshman point guard Nigel Munson is likely transferring out of the Hokies program, according to sources close to the situation.

Munson averaged 11.1 minutes per game this past season, but he had the inside track to become a starter after Seth Greenberg lost his starting backcourt – seniors Zabian Dowdell and Jamon Gordon.
 
RANDOM NOTES:
 
One of the more interesting sights of the day was watching current Kentucky coach Billy Gillispie and former Wildcats coach Tubby Smith sitting next to one another on the bleachers. … One source confirmed that former Duke big man Josh McRoberts got a guaranteed two-year deal with Portland after being drafted in the second round (No. 37 overall). The word is that McRoberts will earn about $700,000 his second season – and part of the reason is that McRoberts is represented by Arn Tellum – who also happens to represent current Trail Blazers Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge. … Western Kentucky’s Courtney Lee is the most athletic college guy in the camp. Lee, Pargo, Matthews and James put on a mini-dunk contest.

AKRON, OHIO - After spending a day in Cincinnati yesterday on the first day of the ever-important July recruiting period, I took the 3 ½-hour drive to Akron late last night and arrived in LeBron’s City.

It’s crazy that LeBron has gotten Mike Krzyzewski, Jim Calhoun, Tom Izzo and many of college basketball’s elite coaches to come to Akron for Nike’s inaugural LeBron James Skills Academy.

LeBron participated in some of the workouts with the top high school players this morning and he’s expected to play tonight against the college campers.

The crop of college campers is solid with guards Chris Douglass-Roberts, Tywon Lawson (North Carolina), Jeremy Pargo (Gonzaga), Drew Neitzel (Michigan State), Drew Lavender (Xavier), Scottie Reynolds (Villanova), Wesley Matthews (Marquette), Patrick Christopher (Cal), Courtney Lee (Western Kentucky) and JaJuan Smith (Tennessee) frontcourt guys Hasheem Thabeeet and Jeff Adrien (UConn), Taj Gibson (USC), Brook and Robin Lopez (Stanford), Alex Maric (Nebraska), Shaun Pruitt (Illinois), Jason Thompson (Rider) and Othello Hunter (Ohio State).

Maric injured his left ankle in morning and his status is unclear for the night pickup games. Thabeet hurt his right hand, but after being examined by UConn coach Jim Calhoun, he pronounced himself ready to go for tonight.

THE DREAM IS BACK

That’s what it says on Thabeet’s cell phone voice message.

Thabeet said that he was torn with the decision whether to leave Storrs after just one season, but the lack of experience and the thought of a short NBA career were the two key factors.

``I’ve only played basketball for five years,” Thabeet said. “Other guys have been playing much longer. I would not have been good for me because I would have been at a disadvantage.”

``I sat down with my family and I know I could have gotten paid now,” he added. “But if I go out now, I might only end up playing in the NBA for five years. That’s not what I want to do.”

MATTA ON MEND

One of the most painful sights in Cincinnati was watching Ohio State coach Thad Matta with a cane.

Matta had back surgery recently and he had complications, which have left him without much movement in his right foot. He was told by the doctors that the movement should come back soon.

LAWSON WAS NEARLY HISTORY

Ty Lawson admitted that four days prior to the deadline to declare for the NBA Draft, his mind was basically made up.

``I was 90 percent sure I was going to put my name in,” Lawson said. “But then I talked to my parents and a couple of Nike people and they said that I’d do better next year if I stayed.”