AKRON, Ohio -- LeBron James sat in the bleachers Saturday, watching as his high school's freshmen basketball team warmed up for a game.

For now, it's as close as the 18-year-old superstar can get to the court.

LeBron gave jerseys back

Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary coach Dru Joyce told ESPN's Jay Bilas that LeBron James on Friday returned the two jerseys to the Next Urban Gear and Music store in Shaker Heights, Ohio, before he was ruled ineligible. Joyce also said that James faxed a letter to the Ohio High School Athletic Association informing the OHSAA that James had returned the merchandise. An employee at the store said "no comment" when asked to confirm if James had returned the jerseys.

James, widely acknowledged as the nation's top prep player, spent his first day on the sideline after being ruled ineligible by state officials for accepting two vintage sports jerseys worth $845.

The Ohio High School Athletic Association ruled Friday that James violated a state bylaw on amateurism by accepting the trendy, "throwback'' jerseys from a clothing store on Jan. 25.

The decision came four days after James was cleared following a two-week investigation for accepting a $50,000-plus sport utility vehicle as an 18th birthday gift from his mother.

On Friday, OHSAA commissioner Clair Muscaro declared James, a senior expected to be the first overall selection in this year's NBA draft, ineligible and said St. Vincent-St. Mary had to forfeit its last win on Jan. 26.

James, dressed in street clothes, did not comment when approached inside the school's gym.

Robert Rosenthal, owner of "Next Urban Gear and Music'' in Cleveland where James got the jerseys, released a statement Saturday night saying the OHSAA rushed to judgment.

Rosenthal said he tried to call Muscaro back after the commissioner left a voice mail. He said Muscaro spoke with a shift supervisor "who was not involved in any of the transactions.''

"We remain available to provide any information the OHSAA may need,'' he said.

Muscaro earlier had said James' returning the jerseys wouldn't affect the ruling. Muscaro could not be reached for comment Saturday night.

The Fighting Irish (13-1), ranked No. 1 this week by USA Today, host Canton McKinley on Sunday at the University of Akron's James A. Rhodes Arena.

James will be there only as a spectator unless he takes legal action to be allowed to play.

Attorney Fred Nance, recently hired to represent James and his family, could seek a temporary restraining order to keep the two-time Ohio Mr. Basketball eligible pending an appeal of the OHSAA's ruling.

Nance did not immediately return a phone message from the AP seeking comment Saturday.

OHSAA spokesman Bob Goldring said for James to appeal, he would have to make his intentions known to Muscaro in writing. The appeal would be heard by a state panel on Feb. 13 at the OHSAA's offices in Columbus.

St. Vincent-St. Mary coach Dru Joyce did not know when -- or if -- the appeal would be filed, and said any statements on the matter would come from Nance.

Joyce asked school athletic director Grant Innocenzi if James could still practice, but when he didn't get an answer, the coach kept James from participating in Saturday's 1½-hour session.

"He was here,'' Joyce said. "He didn't work out with the guys.''

After learning James had accepted a Gale Sayers No. 40 Chicago Bears jersey ($395) and a Wes Unseld No. 41 Washington Bullets jersey ($450), Muscaro spoke with the store manager at "Next Urban Gear and Music'' in Cleveland. Muscaro was told James did not pay for the jerseys.

By doing so, James had violated an Ohio amateur bylaw 4-10-1 (c) that states "an athlete forfeits his or her amateur status by capitalizing on athletic fame by receiving money or gifts of monetary value.''

"The bottom line,'' Muscaro said. "He did not pay for these items.''

Robert Rosenthal, the store's owner, declined comment on Saturday.

Gloria James said she was disappointed in Muscaro's ruling, and claims the OHSAA did not contact her during the inquiry.

St. Vincent-St. Mary is scheduled to play five more regular-season games, including a Feb. 8 date in Trenton, N.J., before it will try and win its third state title in four seasons.

Joyce said his team is dealing with losing its best player as well as could be expected.

"Kids are resilient, man,'' he said. "They're about business, and that's how we're looking at it. Yeah, we don't like the circumstances, but this is an opportunity. I don't want our guys to feel bad and not play because of how they received the opportunity.''

Joyce has asked the media to refrain from interviewing any of James' teammates, and said he wouldn't appoint one of his players to act as a spokesman for the group.

"At this point, even if I appointed one, they don't want to talk,'' he said. "They just want to play basketball. They want their game to do the talking for them.''