LOS ANGELES -- Guard O.J. Mayo, a two-time Mr. Basketball in Ohio who is considered the top prep prospect in the country, has signed a national letter of intent to play at Southern California.

 

His signing was announced late Wednesday night by USC.

 

Mayo, a 6-foot-5, 215-pounder from Huntington, W.Va., averaged 28.6 points, 5.7 rebounds, five assists and 2.3 steals last season as a junior at North College Hill High in Cincinnati. He led the school to its second consecutive Division III state title.

 

"We feel as a result of this recruiting class that it has changed the perception and expectations of our program," USC coach Tim Floyd said. "In O.J. Mayo, we signed the No. 1 player in the country. We think the impact of him alone raises the level of the program."

 

Widely regarded as the top player in his class since the seventh grade, Mayo began getting attention as a 13-year-old starter on the varsity team at Rose Hill Christian School in Ashland, Ky.

 

Mayo went on lead North College Hill High to two state titles before transferring to Huntington High in West Virginia for his senior year.

 

"He has a poise to his game that is uncommon for a player his age," Floyd said. "I would encourage people to buy their tickets because he is worth it."

 

Also signing national letters of intent with USC were forward Davon Jefferson of Lynwood, forward Leonard Washington of Lake Charles, La., and swingman Marcus Simmons of Alexandria, La.

espn.com

 

USC didnt even recruit him because they thought Mayo wanted to go to an upper echelon program. Mayo wants to "change the face of USC basketball forever" while playing for a former NBA hea coach.

 

wow.

that's either extremely innovative or extremely stupid.

not a big surpise...he will last a year there before going pro

USC didnt even recruit him because they thought Mayo wanted to go to an upper echelon program. Mayo wants to "change the face of USC basketball forever" while playing for a former NBA hea coach.

 

wow.

AKA I want to be the man at a small basketball school for a season.

 

Kevin Love, Kyle Singler, Michael Beasley and Eric Gordon will all mean more to their programs by committing there in terms of time at the schools, production, and winning then Mayo will.

that's either extremely innovative or extremely stupid.

if Majo is as special as everyone suggests he is, it's not a stupid move at all

that's either extremely innovative or extremely stupid.

if Majo is as special as everyone suggests he is, it's not a stupid move at all

I know that's why I leave room for error in my comment

He said something along the lines of 'they have had Leinart and Bush, so now they are ready for me.' Dude is a jackass.

Yeah, I'm not high on him at all.

 

He's a top 10 player in his class, but he hasn't rose to the top of his class like everyone thought he would when he became known in 8th and 9th grade.

Yeah, I'm not high on him at all.

 

He's a top 10 player in his class, but he hasn't rose to the top of his class like everyone thought he would when he became known in 8th and 9th grade.

He wasn't lights out the times I watched him. Against Oak Hill last year, he scored a lot but needed a lot of shots to do it. He put up his points, but he had his fair share of misses too. I personally thought Bill Walker was as impressive if not more, and he isn't nearly the punk that Mayo is.

He won't change anything unless he stays for at least 3 years, which he won't, so this is moot.

Mayo is an attention seeking egomaniac. You need 2+ years to make a lasting difference in a program, not 1 and done.

Rose is a better point guard than Mayo, which is why he's going to make the big bucks at Memphis, but this is still a huge signing for Memphis. He won't go Carmelo and win it all for them, but he'll have a huge impact.

Mayo is an attention seeking egomaniac. You need 2+ years to make a lasting difference in a program, not 1 and done.

Carmello Anthony?

 

Anyway, I think this is huge for USC. Floyd has that program going in the right direction and they already had a solid class coming in next season.

Mayo is an attention seeking egomaniac. You need 2+ years to make a lasting difference in a program, not 1 and done.

Carmello Anthony?

 

Anyway, I think this is huge for USC. Floyd has that program going in the right direction and they already had a solid class coming in next season.

 

And have a solid class of freshman on this years team. Between Washington, Arizona, UCLA, and now potentially USC....the Pac 10 is starting to get pretty good. And USC, between Floyd and the new area, should continue to rake in the recruits.

 

Oh, and Carmelo* btw... :mischief