NCAA Basketball

NCAA Has 'New Information' on Mayo

By CHRIS DUNCAN,

Posted: 2008-06-16 16:40:35

HOUSTON (May 13) - Saying the NCAA has "new information," president Myles Brand promised to investigate former Southern California basketball star O.J. Mayo, who allegedly received thousands of dollars in gifts from money given to an event promoter by a sports agency.

On Sunday, ESPN reported that Bill Duffy Associates provided Rodney Guillory with about $200,000 before Mayo arrived at USC. Louis Johnson, a former associate of Mayo's, told "Outside the Lines" that Mayo received about $30,000 and other benefits from Guillory while in high school and during his one season at USC.

Mayo declared for the NBA draft after the season and hired BDA Sports' Calvin Andrews as his agent.

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)

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)

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)

** 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)

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)

** 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)

** 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)

** 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)

** 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)

** 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)

Brand, speaking Tuesday in Houston to kick off this week's Division II National Championships Festival, said that "our enforcement division has new information" about Mayo's case "and as a matter of fact, when we have new information on any case, we will investigate."

He would not comment further on the specifics of Mayo's case.

Duffy denied any illegal activity involving Mayo on Monday, but USC acknowledged that the school is working with the NCAA and the Pac-10 "in a cooperative investigation to review these new allegations."

NCAA rules prohibit giving college athletes money or other gifts. Brand said the schools have more of a direct obligation than the NCAA to shield their athletes from sports agents, boosters and other outsiders.

"We are not the cops on the corner," Brand said. "The schools themselves have the responsibility to follow the rules and that means, and includes, separating agents from interfering with student-athletes."

At the Final Four last month, Brand and NBA commissioner David Stern announced a cooperative effort to improve areas of youth basketball. Brand said Tuesday that one of the main initiatives of the partnership will focus on "revising recruiting and other activities."

"Pre-collegiate basketball is something we definitely need to address," he said. "We're really focused on changing that environment. Yes, I am concerned about it."

Brand said he has no say on whether the NBA will raise its age limit when the current collective bargaining agreement expires in 2011. Currently, the league's minimum age is 19. Mayo turned 20 in November and joined the growing number of players who play one season in college and bolt for the pros. Memphis star Derrick Rose and Kansas State's Michael Beasley also declared for the draft after their freshman seasons.

Brand would like to see the NBA require players to stay in school for "two, three or four years," but says he's powerless to sway any decision.

"The NCAA has no ability to influence, in any way, the age rule," he said. "So any age limitation rules, the 19-year-olds who are so-called "one and done," are the result of bargaining negotiation between the NBA and the players' association. The NCAA was not involved in any way in that bargaining in setting up the rule. Only the NBA management and the players association set those rules."

Brand said he won't be afraid to sanction USC or any other high-profile school caught in violation of NCAA rules. He admitted that punishing the schools sometimes is not enough to deter agents and other outsiders from influencing players with cash, gifts or other benefits.

"This is not acceptable behavior and on occasion, it's illegal," Brand said. "You get thrown in jail if you rob a bank, but people keep robbing banks. The fact of the matter is these kinds of activities are unacceptable, they are unfortunate. We expect the schools to enforce the rules and protect our student-athletes."

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.

2008-05-13 18:47:53

Must Read?

0 %

0 VOTES

Recent Comments

Post Your Own

1 - 10 of 12

12 comments

denverigor 01:34:47 PM Jun 20 2008

Report This!

How do you honestly expect a kid (young man) that has had nothing his entire life to refuse money soimeone is offering him. The schools are the problem, look at how much moneythey make off these kids. I know they get their college paid for, but a guy needs a buck or twenty in his pocket too, for a date or something like that you know. You old farts were young once, get with the program!!

presjmack 09:12:08 AM May 14 2008

Report This!

Miles Brand and the NCAA are nothing more than a joke! USC and Ohio State will never be touched. You can take that to the bank. What happened to the Reggie Bush investigation? What about Clarett?

The condums and the acorns have nothing to worry about with Miles and the NAZIS

r111158 06:55:26 AM May 14 2008

Report This!

The NCAA is a joke--- with FAR FAR less money "supposedly" involved with a recruit, the NCAA all but handed Alabama the death penalty....with a school that has blatant violations involing close to three quarters of a million dollars in two sports....and so far....nothing. If this had been Alabama, the NCAA would have banned Bama from playing football or basketball for 3 years by now!!!!!!!! Two faced hypocrites. If I was any school in the NCAA today, I would ban their investigators from campus grounds and file an injunction against them to stay away from the program. Its selective witch hunting.............look at how Ohio State got off the hook with Clarett!!!!!!!!!!!! Its a complete scam!!!!!! Congress should investigate the NCAA.

lomaed 11:36:50 PM May 13 2008

Report This!

IS ALL ABOUT ME

lomaed 11:36:28 PM May 13 2008

Report This!

MAYO ANOTHER SELFISH SCREW YOUR TEAMATE KIND OF GUY WITH NO CLASS . A BACK STABER

dieselman612003 11:07:41 PM May 13 2008

Report This!

Just say NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.

kentomoda 10:44:58 PM May 13 2008

Report This!

NBA should ban Mayo from NBA draft until would be his senior year at USC and USC should get the death penalty based on Mayo and Bush

jhbonz 09:54:58 PM May 13 2008

Report This!

Typical of USC. Whenwill they get the boot?

gerrycull 09:32:58 PM May 13 2008

Report This!

The fatherless Mr. Mayo did nothing wrong. He may have accepted pittance from Mr. Guillory - his father figure. In his case there was legal (USA) contract with
with Guill.. One could not argue that Guill secretly represented present Duffy management. The NCAA better back off before they are invited to Congress to reply to Mr. Waxman!

bufandcb 07:59:00 PM May 13 2008

Report This!

Rather than stick their heads in the sand, USC should embrace Kentucky's philosophy of keeping costs under control -- sign 'em young. There's a video post detailing this option at www.bookiemom.com

1 - 10 of 12

12 comments