COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Ohio State University plans to give LeBron James an honorary degree.

The Ohio State Board of Trustees will meet Wednesday to vote on dozens decisions, including whether to give an honorary Doctor of Public Service degree to NBA great LeBron James.

According to Ohio State’s University Senate, honorary degrees are only conferred when “it can be demonstrated that the recipient has made contributions far beyond the expected high standards of the profession.”

James is the only person up for approval for an honorary degree from OSU, which last awarded an honorary public service doctorate in August 2024. If approved, James will join an impressive list of awardees, including former Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Dr. Anthony Fauci and former presidents Barack Obama, Gerald Ford, George W. Bush and George H.W. Bush.

Among the star-studded list are few professional athletes, making James a standout. Jesse Owens also received an honorary degree, although he also graduated from Ohio State. James was invited by former Ohio State football coach and Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel to play football for Ohio State, but instead James went directly to the NBA. James has received other honors that are rare among professional athletes; he also recently became the first professional male athlete to have his likeness depicted in a Ken doll.