Are we sure we want this guy?

by Paragon SC on Jan 27, 2007 6:15 PM PST in USC Basketball Comment 4 comments

I will have a Cal game summary up tonight or tomorrow but I feel this story is too important not to put up first-Paragon SC

Mayo escorted off the court
Photo: Louis Brems/The Herald-Dispatch

Is this recruitment of OJ Mayo really something SC wants? Are we fully prepared for this type of behavior? We will not be able to claim ignorance if he becomes a problem because our eyes are wide open and some SC fans can't wait for him to get here. I'm just saying be prepared.

As most of you know I am not a real basketball enthusiast. I will watch it occasionally but I mostly am disinterested in this sport. I come to enjoy though the recent success that Tim Floyd has brought to the USC hoops program. It hasn't been pretty but wins are wins and you take what you can get. Ugly wins are a learning experience that hopefully will bring a team together. But in the end it's team chemistry that make s a team click, you need to look no closer than across town to how team chemistry makes it all work. We have seen it in football this past season and SC hoops is but a fledgling program where team chemistry is delicate and coming together.

Some it makes beg the question, why do we want this guy? Even if he's here for one year, do we really want to deal with the potential issues that may arise? I've said it before that I was not sold on this type of recruit especially with some off the off-field issues that SC has had with the football program over the past couple of years.

I realize that I am in the minority here as this one year wonder is supposed to deliver us to the promised-land, but once a head case always a head case, and you can see this one coming a mile away. There is no need for this type of behavior, especially from a 18 year old kid. No way, no how.

Here's Why:

CHARLESTON -- Huntington High's perfect boys basketball season and quest for a national championship took a potential hit Friday, despite the Highlanders posting a 77-64 victory against Capital.

What began as a possible preview of a state championship game between West Virginia's top two Class AAA-ranked teams before a regular season Charleston Civic Center crowd of 8,846 ended with Huntington's 15th win but resulted in the ejection of Huntington star senior O.J. Mayo.

...Mayo scored on a breakaway dunk over Capital's Tyrone Goard with 5:15 left in the game that gave Huntington a 61-43 lead -- the largest spread of the game -- and was issued a technical foul for taunting by referee Mike Lazzo. Mayo retreated to the other end of the court but continued to argue with Goard and other Capital players, and Lazzo gave the 6-foot-5 guard a second technical, his fifth overall foul. Mayo followed Lazzo to the scorers table to dispute the call and video of the incident showed Mayo bump into the official from behind and Lazzo fell to the court.

Then, Mayo was escorted to the locker room after scoring 18 points.

You're kidding me right?!

We don't need this especially if he is only going to be here one year. The red flags should be going up all over the place on this one. I don't want to throw cold water on the party but do you think that this will get better. There is an old saying that comes to mind...Marriage doesn't make you faithful. Well, maybe that's a bad analogy but it's all I can think of at the moment, but just going to college doesn't make you more mature. This kid should know better and I'm not sure that all the POTENTIAL success that he may bring is worth the risk of this type of behavior.

Tim Floyd has done a great job with what he has had to work with but I am not sure that this is a step in the right direction. He better make damn sure that he can keep this kid under wraps.

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Comments

OJ Mayo

OJ was undeserving of the two technicals. I was there. He did not behave in a way that merited two technicals. Some believe it was an attempt to sway the game.

by urbanoptimist on Jan 29, 2007 6:41 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Mayo

I was also at the game, and I consider taunting and shoving other players reason for a technical. Mayo also has a history of not only taunting players but also taunting officials. Besides that there is no reason to ever come in physical contact with an official.

by bbfan on Jan 29, 2007 11:25 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

18 years old

I was not at the game so I don't know what happened.

I think his age easily COULD be a factor here, though - he's still in the process of maturing, like most 18 year-olds. If Mayo really has behavior problems, then maybe he just hasn't been reined in enough. On the other hand, there may be other factors involved here. What some people might consider bravado backed up by the requisite amount of talent, others might perceive as arrogance - especially if they're jealous.

My hope would be that Coach Floyd is aware of any potential issues and believes he can handle things. If that's the case, maybe Floyd can be a positive influence in Mayo's life and help get him on track before he takes the court for USC. The program is more important that one player; I doubt Floyd would blithely risk damaging USC's rep, no matter who it was.

by Defender90 on Jan 29, 2007 12:17 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

mayo

I agree defender 90. He is very young and thats why Im glad he has to play college ball for one year. This kid has talent and hopefully his year at USC will help him mature enough to go the NBA. He needs a strong adult role model that will teach him how to deal with his high exposure.

by bbfan on Jan 30, 2007 9:39 AM PST reply actions 0 recs