Barack Obama’s 40-year-old high school basketball jersey to go on sale for £80,000

Barack Obama’s high school basketball jersey has emerged for sale for £80,000 ($100,000).

The former president was a callow 18 year old when he wore the white number 23 jersey for Punahou School in Hawaii 40 years ago.

His love of the sport endured into adulthood and he was frequently seen playing it at the White House.

The former president was a callow 18 year old when he wore the white number 23 jersey for Punahou School in Hawaii 40 years ago

The jersey was due to be discarded at the end of the 1978/79 season, but his team-mate Peter Noble decided to take it home as he had also worn it when Obama was not able to play.

He kept hold of it as a souvenir as they had become state champions.

Now, four decades later, he is selling it with Heritage Auctions, of Dallas, Texas.

It is being sold alongside a ‘senior leavers’ school yearbook which has several photos of Obama, including one of him playing basketball. Obama was known as Barry until he asked to be called Barack, his formal name, in 1980

‘Barry’ Obama (back row centre) in his High School leavers book, which forms part of the auction lot that includes his number 23 basketball jersey

It is being sold alongside a ‘senior leavers’ school yearbook which has several photos of Obama, including one of him playing basketball.

It is captioned ‘Barry Obama goes up for a basket against St Louis’.

The number 23 is synonimous with basketball legend Michael Jordan, while David Beckham wore the 23 shirt at Real Madrid

Eric Bradley, of Heritage Auctions, said: ‘For a U.S. President who made good use of the White House basketball court, this represents more than just a piece of sportswear.

‘Some would say basketball is in President Obama’s blood and his high school jersey is a key piece of history of the likes that rarely appear from a U.S. President’s youth.

‘He wore it as an 18 year old during his senior year at Punahou as a member of the 1979 Hawaii State Champion boys’ varsity basketball team.

‘It was fortuitously rescued from being discarded when the new varsity jerseys arrived on campus after freshmen Peter Noble, three years behind Obama at Punahou, had worn the same number ’23’ jersey while on the junior varsity team.

‘We expect it to bring in $100,000 (£80,000) or more when it crosses the auction block.’

Obama was known as Barry until he asked to be called Barack, his formal name, in 1980.

The number 23 is synonimous with basketball legend Michael Jordan, while David Beckham wore the 23 shirt at Real Madrid.

The sale takes place on August 17.