Bryce James will sit half the basketball season; Here's why

James will not be eligible to play until Dec. 24 due to CIF transfer rules

Those who anticipate seeing Bryce James play for his new school, Notre Dame/Sherman Oaks in Los Angeles, will have to wait a little longer.

The youngest son of NBA superstar, LeBron James, will serve a sit-out period after transferring from Sierra Canyon this past summer. He will not be eligible until December 24 due to the CIF Southern Section transfer rules, which state a student-athlete must sit out half the season unless there's a valid change of residence or an approved hardship (very rare).

James' first game available for the Knights will be Dec. 27 in a Christmas tournament at South Pasadena High. The season begins Nov. 13.

Bryce, a 6-foot-6 junior, played with Campbell Hall during the summer circuit, but then decided to enroll at Notre Dame for the fall semester. That move has no bearing on the ruling. 

Bryce James transfers again, will play for Notre Dame after brief stay at Campbell Hall

Each student-athlete has one sit-out period (known as an SOP) to use in their four years of high school athletics. If a student-athlete transfers again, they'd need to move residence or sit out an entire season. It's common to see seniors transfer and become eligible immediately, due to valid change of residence.

Notre Dame won the CIF State Division I championship last season, but lost Caleb Foster (Duke) and Dusty Stromer (Gonzaga) to graduation. However, the Knights return Houston-bound guard Mercy Miller, rising junior Lino Mark, and standout sophomore Zach White from the championship team.

James split time between JV and varsity at Sierra Canyon and tallied 3.8 points per game in 12 varsity appearances for the Trailblazers as a sophomore. Despite little production in high school, James had a more promising summer and has earned a four-star rating, according to 247Sports.com, and currently holds an offer to Ohio State and Duquesne University.

OC Register's Steve Fryer talks all-time prep athletes he's covered on Southern Section Sitdown