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Mayo leaving USC for NBA

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After one college season in which he achieved nearly everything except a satisfactory conclusion for his team, O.J. Mayo is moving on. The USC freshman guard announced Wednesday that he would hire an agent and declare for the NBA draft, in which he is expected to become a lottery pick. He is projected as the No. 3 overall selection by nbadraft.net.

Los Angeles Times

O.J. Mayo, Tim Floyd, AP O.J. Mayo, Tim Floyd, AP
April 10, 2008  07:25 AM ET

thts wazzup keep doin bug thangz

April 10, 2008  09:03 AM ET

Well, we all expected this.

April 10, 2008  09:17 AM ET

Stay in the college game, get your championship, cause your arent gonna do a thing in the NBA Mayo

April 10, 2008  09:46 AM ET

I don't know why so many people feel the need to declare that these players have no chance in the NBA. Only God and themselves know what they're capable of. I wish OJ and all the future pros luck.

Mayo has legit skills. People are basing their opinion on him on a few early bad games. He held his own against Kansas, Memphis and UCLA. The problem for him was that he went to a rebuilding team that is not even the biggest basketball school in its city. As it turned out the Trojans were completely one-sided offensively. Basically the USC offense was toss OJ the ball and hope he does something with it. As a freshman he pretty much assumed Nick Young's roll, who is now getting decent PT in Washington as a rookie. He is a capable shooter, defender, and ball handler on the NBA level.

OJ's stock will probably drop due to the aforementioned perceptions of him, and one team will be lucky to pick up a very polished player. He wasn't the best player in college but in terms of NBA potential he is in the top ten.

April 10, 2008  10:27 AM ET

This kid can play, period. His mid-range game is already NBA ready. His body is NBA ready and he palys solid defense. He has to work on hs range on his jumper. I think he plays a lot next season and make an impact.

April 10, 2008  10:34 AM ET

OJ Mayo is good. And I think the questions about him being selfish were wrong. From everything I've read and seen, he seems to be more mature than I thought.

April 10, 2008  10:43 AM ET

jj730,

Bingo!! This kid came out of high school with a bad rep (rightfully or wrongfully so). He didn't do anything to confirm that rep will at USC. Trust me he could have gotten into all kinds of stuff in LA.

I think he is a mature kid now and understand his position. He almost seems shy.

April 10, 2008  10:58 AM ET

He will be a good lotto pick.... but his size might hurt him playing #2.

April 10, 2008  10:59 AM ET

I'd go pro too, if I had the talent.
- The rest of the USC team

April 10, 2008  11:21 AM ET

he said from the beginning that he would handle USC's basketball program for one year and one year only so that he could then move to the NBA -- Floyd of course jumped at the opportunity to collect his pay and let his player run the team -- turns out that HotDogMayo wasn't actually the best player on the team, but, oh well -- now he goes to the NBA, and if he's taken 3rd, just shows how low the NBA has sunk -- taking kids for their PR value rather than skills -- do you really think that Mayo, right now, can compete with any one of the starters on the Spurs, the Mavs, the Celtics? -- maybe he can take Kobe's slot, or Wade's -- is he really comparable to Oden and Durant? -- hahaha

April 10, 2008  11:30 AM ET

I tend to think that most players would benefit from another year in college...just to add some maturity to their skills. Yet, I think it's hard to come up with a reason for Mayo not to go. I think he's got the skills and is mature enough that he'll be fine. I argued against Love and Collison going, but I think Mayo has the right stuff for the NBA.....regrettably, because as a fan, I'd like to see him lead USC deeper into the tournament next year. The one and out this year was a huge disappointment.

April 10, 2008  11:45 AM ET

Would be frickin hilarious if he got drafted by the Clippers. Would serve him right!

April 10, 2008  11:50 AM ET

Was there ever any drama about OJ, we're talking about a 20 year old INCOMING freshman for Pete's sake. Did his parents hold him back for 2 or 3 years? I turned 18 after my first year in college - makes me think about the little league team that watched the Asian team take turns shaving in the bathroom - big clue - no wonder so many of these Freshman phenoms are dominating, look at Beasley 19 and Rose going on 20 too. But OJ was 20 when he stepped onto that crime infested campus in the heart of LA. That team is right on the cusp of greatness and he could have helped usher in a new era in Pac-10 BBall.

April 10, 2008  11:54 AM ET

Pete,

USC campus isn't crime infested. The slums around it is. USC is an oasis surrounded by a nightmare. Wasn't always that way but USC does offer a ray of hope for many in the area.

April 10, 2008  11:56 AM ET

Is this reallly a new story? No when he went to USC he basically said he was going to be one and done and wanted a coach who had nba experience.

April 10, 2008  12:02 PM ET

OJ is a solid player and a good kid. He didn't get into trouble and he made his team better. He's done agood job proving that he will at least be coachable and not a troublemaker in the NBA. Wish him the best of luck.


Also, I'm happy to see USC's best player leaving =p

April 10, 2008  12:29 PM ET

Good luck OJ!
Everyone imagine for a second, what college basketball would be like if players had to be three years removed from high school, like they do for football... The game would be so much better.

April 10, 2008  01:05 PM ET

Would be frickin hilarious if he got drafted by the Clippers. Would serve him right!
The Warden | 04/10/08, 11:45 AM

Are you trying to get on my good side; because I found that very funny.Plus I am a huge LAKERS fan as well.

April 10, 2008  01:08 PM ET

OJ is a solid player and a good kid. He didn't get into trouble and he made his team better. He's done agood job proving that he will at least be coachable and not a troublemaker in the NBA. Wish him the best of luck.

Also, I'm happy to see USC's best player leaving =p
BruinsWin! | 04/10/08, 12:02 PM

Hopefully that really good center from UCLA will follow the money as weel. Seriously, Love is a great palyer.

 
April 10, 2008  01:08 PM ET

well

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