Five-time NBA champion Kobe Bryant is the most famous alum to ever come out of Lower Merion High School. The Lakers superstar is an icon to young basketball players everywhere, so it makes sense that his former high school would take pride in having had Bryant play his high school ball there. The school has a display case known as “Kobe’s Shrine,” filled with Kobe Bryant memorabilia. Somebody broke into this “shrine,” and stole some of that memorabilia, reports Rob Tornoe of Philly.com:
Among the items stolen were framed replica of Bryant’s Lower Merion jersey, the Aces’ 1996 PIAA Boys Basketball State Championship trophy and net from the title game, and several pairs of Nike sneakers signed by the Lakers superstar.
“We’re bummed,” said Doug Young, Lower Merion’s Director of Community Relations, who said couldn’t understand why someone would steal items that don’t have a significant monetary value.
“It’s a replica jersey, it’s not even the jersey he wore in high school,” said Young, a high school teammate of Bryant. “I’m not sure what someone would do with a state championship trophy. For us, the items are important because they represent some really wonderful memories.”
Lower Merion police are currently investigating the incident and reviewing surveillance video from inside and outside the school. No one was harmed during the burglary.“Material items can be replaced and we will make every effort to restore and even enhance the contents of the case with the help of alumni and friends,” principal Sean Hughes and athletics director Don Walsh said in the joint email to parents. “And even if we cannot replace all the items, the moments that produced them are still very much alive in our memories and honored through the ongoing traditions of Aces Nation.”
Here is the scene of the crime, via Zach Drapkin of City Of Basketball Love:
Current status of the Kobe case at Lower Merion: pic.twitter.com/TwNxomCggz
— Zach Drapkin (@ZachDrapkin) February 6, 2017
