*3-time NBA champion LeBron James skipped college to play ball — a decision he does not regret. The former MVP has long advocated for education, especially for kids. Now, he intends to take classes at the University of Akron. James also partners with the institution to help inner-city kids, who qualify for a scholarship program he founded, obtain higher education. The LeBron James Family Foundation has secured full scholarships to the University of Akron for all students who finish his I PROMISE Institute. More than 1,000 are currently enrolled.
“I’m signed up at the University of Akron for whenever I’m able to get a little bit of down time,” James said, according to Ohio.com. “That’s always been a conversation that took place, to take some college courses, take some classes. So right now I just do a lot of reading, book reading and obviously I’m around some really good people that I kind of take their knowledge and sort it into my mind.”
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At 18-years-old, James passed on college for the pros, becoming the No. 1 overall pick by the Cleveland Cavaliers. Now the 31-year-old father of three children wants to further his education as his schedule permits.
“I love world history,” he said when asked about a possible major. “I’m pretty fond of that. I love, like when I go around, obviously every summer traveling places, and it’s kind of unique to see how we kind of built things of that nature. Who kind of ruled places at certain points of time. It’s pretty cool.”
LeBron’s first class of students at I PROMISE began when they were in third grade. They are now eighth-graders.
“My foundation is probably, besides my family, the No. 1 thing in my life,” he said. “Being able to change kids and families, giving them an opportunity to see better days, we strive to do that every single day. And I get emails and I talked to my kids weekly about their progression in elementary school all the way to the kids in middle school, high school and the kids that are going to be going to college soon. So, that’s a huge thing for me.”
During his NBA Finals runs with the Miami Heat, James reportedly shut down all social media accounts to focus on reading in between games.
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