ESPN is reporting that a former associate of ex-USC basketball player O.J. Mayo says Mayo violated NCAA rules by accepting $30,000 in cash and gifts from a Los Angeles event promoter before and during his one season playing for the Trojans. The report, which first aired this morning on Outside the Lines, says the gifts Mayo received from a man named Rodney Guillory included cash, a flat-screen TV for Mayo's dorm room, cell phone service, a hotel room, clothes, meals and airline tickets for Mayo's friends and a relative.
Mayo issued the following statement:
"I am focusing on the process of making my dream come true, which is to play professional basketball. I will not allow these allegations to become a distraction to me and my family. I have been through investigations by the NCAA, the Pac Ten and USC before I attended school and during the time I have been here. I have not engaged in any wrongdoing. If these claims were true I would suspect they would have been discovered by one of these organizations."Mayo, who is done at USC and has declared for the NBA draft, is the second high-profile USC athlete to be accused of taking improper benefits; an investigation of similar accusations involving Reggie Bush is ongoing.
Mens College Basketball
Kansas basketball coach Bill Self poses with students in Boys Town, Neb., Wednesday, May 7, 2008. Self, who visited Boys Town before appearing at an Omaha sports banquet in the evening, said he'll have no idea what the roster for the defending NCAA champions will look like until after June's NBA draft. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)
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Kansas basketball coach Bill Self, center, jokes during a visit to Boys Town, Neb., Wednesday, May 7, 2008, as he stands near Boys Town Executive Director Steve Boes, left. said he'll have no idea what the roster for the defending NCAA champions will look like until after June's NBA draft. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)
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Kansas basketball coach Bill Self, left, takes questions from students during a visit to Boys Town, Neb., Wednesday, May 7, 2008. Self, who was in Omaha for a sports banquet, said he'll have no idea what the roster for the defending NCAA championship team will look like until after June's NBA draft. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)
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** FILE ** In this Jan. 9, 2008 file photo, LSU's Garrett Temple (14) knocks the ball away from Mississippi State's Ben Hansbrough, right, and Temple eventually ends up with the ball during the first half of a college basketball game in Baton Rouge, La. Hansbrough, who helped Mississippi State advance to the second round of the NCAA tournament last month, is transferring to Notre Dame. (AP Photo/Bill Feig, File)
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Memphis head coach John Calipari smiles as he answers a question at a news conference at the college basketball Final Four in this April 6, 2008 file photo, in San Antonio. Calipari has signed a contract extension through the 2012-13 season that includes an annual raise of $500,000. Calipari will make $2.35 million per year and will receive a $5 million bonus if he stays through the end of the deal, athletic director R.C. Johnson announced Saturday, April 26, 2008. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
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** FILE ** This March 27, 2008 file photo shows Texas guard D.J. Augustin (14) smiling during a news conference at the NCAA South Regional basketball tournament in Houston. All-American point guard D.J. Augustin says he is leaving Texas after two seasons to turn pro. He said Wednesday April 23, 2008 that he has long dreamed of playing in the NBA and that he is "ready to start living this dream." (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)
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** FILE ** In this March 22, 2008 file photo, Mississippi State guard Jamont Gordon responds to a question during a news conference at the NCAA men's basketball tournament South Regional in North Little Rock, Ark. Gordon has decided to turn pro but won't hire an agent before the NBA draft. Gordon told The Associated Press he planned to file the paperwork. In a phone interview Tuesday afternoon April 22, 2008, Gordon said he intends to go through with the draft if he remains injury free. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki, File)
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** FILE ** In this March 23, 2008 file photo, Mississippi State guard Jamont Gordon (44) takes a shot as Memphis guard Antonio Anderson (5) defends in the first half of an NCAA men's basketball second-round South Regional game in North Little Rock, Ark. Gordon has decided to turn pro but won't hire an agent before the NBA draft. Gordon told The Associated Press he planned to file the paperwork. In a phone interview Tuesday afternoon April 22, 2008, Gordon said he intends to go through with the draft if he remains injury free. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki, File)
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** FILE ** This March 19, 2006 file photo shows Bucknell basketball coach Pat Flannery pleading with an official during the first half of their NCAA tournament second-round basketball game against Memphis in Dallas. Flannery is retiring after 14 years on the bench at his alma mater. A person at the university told The Associated Press of Flannery's retirement Friday morning, April 18, 2008. (AP Photo/Donna McWilliam, File)
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** FILE ** Memphis coach John Calipari talks with Memphis freshman guard Derrick Rose (23) in the first half of the NCAA South Regional basketball final in Houston in this March 30, 2008 file photo, in Houston. Rose announced on Tuesday, April 15, 2008 he was jumping to the NBA, the same day Calipari agreed in principle to a contract extension with the school. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)
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Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 2)
1. Wheres theres smoke, theres fire. Time for USC FB and BB to get hammered !
Posted at 10:42AM on May 11th 2008 by aaorn W
2. Oh please arron you are just another sore loser, just another jealous opponent
Posted at 11:43AM on May 11th 2008 by neetyl
3. shooda staid at southan cal, probly wooda maid mo money dere
Posted at 12:10PM on May 11th 2008 by Jay Z
4. I'm not sure I understand how schools like IU, for instance, gets serious attention and reprimands from the NCAA rules comittee for "too many phone calls" yet money under the table seems to be so overlooked.
Posted at 12:30PM on May 11th 2008 by Dave
5. I don't see him ever becoming a big star in he NBA. Seems like he has too much baggage and not enough talent.
Posted at 12:38PM on May 11th 2008 by dave
6. Seems as tho EVERY League has a scandal attached to it...Does'nt surprize ME. HOLD THE MAYO! Most of these Sports Guys (& Gals) just have to blab about topics...That's their job. Most of the dopes read a teleprompter anyhow. My Husband likes ESPN & all but I can't stand these supposed "Know it alls" who argue the point. I HATE Stephen Smith/Jeannie the Weenee Zelesco/Dana & Skip as they MUST shove their point of you down our throats. Glad I avoid all that junk...NOT good for the Health,you know!
Posted at 1:04PM on May 11th 2008 by el
7. OJ Simpson didn't do nothing, Reggie Bush didn't do nothing... and OJ Mayo didnt do nothing. You guys are just jealous! What if he did take a little money anyway? How does that hurt anyone else? The NCAA won't find anything... and they won't do anything!
Posted at 1:10PM on May 11th 2008 by Jim
8. This kid has been told he's the next great thing since he was in sixth grade; to think he hasn't been given money and God knows what else under the table for years is to not live in reality. USC is rapidly becoming a cheaters paradise.(Just like 95% of all major colleges)
Posted at 1:15PM on May 11th 2008 by MM
9. USC,,,,The University of Secret Cash
The chargesare more than likely true. I doubt Mayo had money of his own to finance his "possie" and relatives for their trips? After all, he's probably from a fatherless home, reared in a crime infested neighborhood, and was subjected to poverty and all sorts of problems growing up. Ya Right. Another raggs to riches sob story. Seems I've heard it all before????
Posted at 1:22PM on May 11th 2008 by THE WIZZ
10. Let's all live in the real world. If you don't have money and someone is going to give it to you. 99% of us would take it.
Posted at 1:23PM on May 11th 2008 by LB
11. We are originally from Ashland, KY. We knew then that something was going on with O.J. Mayo. He was always bigger than all the others, but in no way are we surprised that he was given money and anything he needed all along. It goes along with sports. That is what is wrong with sports today. We had two boys that were great in sports, but there is always someone, somewhere, that has the inside. Leave it alone!
Posted at 1:46PM on May 11th 2008 by Carole Slone
12. Good for him.
Posted at 2:13PM on May 11th 2008 by Stephen
13. Please...no one is jealous of USC basketball...
Posted at 2:14PM on May 11th 2008 by JD
14. USC, best teams money can buy.
Posted at 5:43PM on May 11th 2008 by don
15. If your not cheating, your not winning!
Posted at 5:44PM on May 11th 2008 by R. Mallory
16. Seems to be running a pattern at USC with both Football (Bush) and Basketball teams. As long as it's all about winning, this crap will happen.
Posted at 5:46PM on May 11th 2008 by akron johnny
17. At S C it is not what you know, but who you know.
SC is no university, that's why the football players take spanish I at 9:00 pm classes at L A Trade Tech.
CHEAT ON!
MISHA
Posted at 6:43PM on May 11th 2008 by Misha
18. None of you probably played bball or even know what it's like so you should just keep quiet!!! Most of you that write are racists and haters. If it was a a young white (caucasian) that this had happened to (quite sure it does) do you think it would be a mention of it even if the rumor persisted???
Posted at 6:57PM on May 11th 2008 by The Way
19. You'll have to look long and hard to find an honest man in this world. In my 60 years on this earth, I've found that most people fall into one of the following categories: Don't listen, don't care, don't know what they're doin or are dishonest.
Posted at 7:02PM on May 11th 2008 by Mike
20. oj just fess up and tell the truth if you were lead to do something wrong, you nba now it dont matter! DONT DRAG THAT BULL OUT LIKE ROGER CLEMENS AND CHRIS WEBBER! if you took the dough SAY IT ! AND LET IT GO
Posted at 7:19PM on May 11th 2008 by dwight