Kobe Bryant memorabilia items were stolen Sunday night from a Lower Merion High School display case set up to honor the basketball star, who was a student and basketball player at the school in the Philadelphia suburbs.
The case was known as "Kobe’s Shrine" and was located outside the Bryant Gymnasium at the NBA star’s alma mater, according to Philly.com. A replica high school jersey, 1996 state championship trophy and net, and several pairs of signed sneakers were taken after the case’s lock was broken open.
Bryant played basketball at Lower Merion from 1992 to 1996, becoming the first freshman to start for the varsity team and finishing his high school career with 2,883 points, more than Wilt Chamberlain or Lionel Simmons.
"We're bummed," Doug Young, Lower Merion’s director of community relations and high school teammate of Bryant’s, told Philly.com. "It's a replica jersey, it's not even the jersey he wore in high school. 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 coach Gregg Downer informed Bryant of the memorabilia theft.
“He didn’t say too much,” Dower told Philly.com. “He’s still trying to process things.”
Principal Sean Hughes and athletic director Don Walsh said in an email to parents that they will make an effort to replace the stolen items and possibly even add new items “with the help of alumni and friends” if the stolen items are not recovered, Philly.com reported.
Police are investigating the theft and reviewing surveillance video inside and outside the school in an attempt to discover who stole the memorabilia.