James ruled ineligible

? High school basketball standout LeBron James was ruled ineligible to play for the rest of the season because he accepted free clothes. The decision Friday by the Ohio High School Athletic Assn. comes four days after James, a senior at St. Vincent-St. Mary, was cleared for accepting a $50,000 sport utility vehicle as a gift from his mother.

The 6-foot-8 James is considered the best high school player in the country and is expected to be the top player selected in June’s NBA draft.

Saturday, James was given two retro sports jerseys from a clothing store. The jerseys, honoring former Chicago Bears running back Gale Sayers, a Kansas graduate, and former Washington Bullets center Wes Unseld, cost a combined $845. The association said James received the jerseys in exchange for posing for pictures to be hung on the store’s walls.

Friday’s ruling forced St. Vincent-St. Mary to forfeit Sunday’s victory. The Fighting Irish, who are 14-0 and ranked No. 1 in the country by USA Today, have five regular-season games remaining.