Dunbar's Pogue linked with O.J. Mayo at USC
'I haven't heard anything from Aaron about it,' says Wolverines coach Pullen.
By Marc Pendleton
Staff Writer
Hot rumor No. 1:
Aaron Pogue has transferred from Dunbar High School to Trotwood-Madison.
Not true, said Dunbar boys basketball coach Pete Pullen.
Laser-hot rumor No. 2:
Pogue will follow O.J. Mayo to play hoops at Southern Cal.
"I haven't heard anything from Aaron about it," said Pullen.
With Chris Wright verbally committed to the University of Dayton, Pogue inherits the area's most sought-after hoop-recruit title.
And his suggested journey has gone wild.
ESPN.com, rivals.com and the Los Angeles Daily News all reported this week that Mayo, the two-time Ohio Mr. Basketball and the nation's top-ranked player, will attend USC.
Mayo also was credited with luring North College Hill teammate Bill Walker and Pogue to Trojan-land.
"I don't know anything at all about that," said Pullen, who's in Denison working a girls hoop camp.
"Several people have been calling for (Pogue), but he hasn't even picked a top 10. About August, we'll try to get things narrowed down for him."
What wasn't reported is if Mayo and Walker will even return to NCH as seniors.
Pogue, 6-9 and 285 pounds, is the only returning starter from Dunbar's D-II state championship run, when he averaged 14.9 points and 10.4 rebounds. He's on the summer all-star camp circuit, including the prestigious Reebok ABCD Camp in Teaneck, N.J., this week, along with Mayo and Walker.
Pogue has joined the celebrated NCH duo on their Cincinnati D-I Greyhounds AAU team for tourneys when not playing in summer leagues with his Dunbar teammates.
Besides hoop, Pogue also is a blue-chip football recruit, although that's mostly based on size and potential. He's expected to play football for Dunbar this fall.
Pogue was unavailable for comment.