Apparently, at the main event tourney in Vegas, the coaches of O.J. Mayo's team made an issue about the team they were facing and the fact they had the wrong color of uniform for the game and wanted a forfeit and delayed the game about 45 minutes, now the reason some people have a problem with it, is because this is about high school kids getting looks from college coaches and apparently two pretty good players on the opposite team had to go get the right color jersey and by the time they got back to the game, they only got to play a couple of mop up minutes.
<TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=0 width="98%" align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD colSpan=3>Mayo & Stephenson Matchup Redux?
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Louisville-bound Edgar Sosa
</TD><TD noWrap width=3></TD><TD vAlign=top>By Denny Conroy Associate Editor
Date: Aug 9, 2005
Prep phenom O.J. Mayo met Brooklyn's rising frosh Lance Stephenson last month at the Reebok ABCD Camp; this became the talk of the basketball world. They could meet again next week at the NYC Hoops Festival at Baruch College.
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Here's info on the event.
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- Mark your calendars for the 1st Annual NYC Hoops Festival sponsored by Reebok Basketball in Assoc. w/ Gary Charles & Sterling McNally which will take place Wednesday August 17 - Saturday August 20 @Baruch College located in Manhattan, New York.
The tournament will be played in championship style one game elimination format and will feature some of the hottest talented prospects in the nation.
Confirmed: D-1 Greyhounds (Ohio)
#1 Class 2007 - O.J. Mayo, #2 Class 2007 - Bill Walker
NY Panthers (NY)
#7 Class of 2006 - Derrick Caracter , Top 50 Class 2006 - Doug Wiggins, Top 50 class 2006 - Robbie Thomas, #2 Class of 2009 - Lance Stephenson
Playaz Basketball Club (NJ)
#2 Class of 2006 - Wayne Ellington, #15 Class of 2006 - Gerald Henderson
Metro Hawks (NY)
Top 50 Class of 2006 - Jonathan Mitchell, Top 30 Class of 2007 - Mike Coburn
Philly Ballers (PA)
#1 Class of 2008 - Tyreke Evans, Top 30 Class of 2007 - Antonio Jardine
Gauchos (NY)
#10 Class of 2006 - Curtis Kelly, Top 50 Class of 2006 - Edgar Sosa, Top 75 Class of 2006 Kashif Pratt
Long Island Lightning (NY)
Top 10 2007 - Corey Fisher, Top 100 Class of 2008 - Justin Burrell, Top 50 Class of 2007 - Darius Gabriel
THE MATCHUPS
Wednesday August 17, 2005 (Quarter Finals)
6:30PM - Gm#1 - Long Island Lightning Vs. Philly Ballers
8:30PM - Gm#2 - NY Panthers Vs. Metro Hawks
Thursday August 18, 2005 (Quarter Finals)
6:30PM - Gm#3 - D1 Greyhounds Vs. Team Odom
8:30PM - Gm#4 - Playaz Basketball Club Vs. Gauchos
Friday August 19, 2005 (Semi-Finals)
6:30PM - Gm#1 Winner Vs. Gm#2 Winner
8:30PM - Gm#3 Winner Vs. Gm#4 Winner
Saturday August 20, 2005 (Championship)
12:00PM - Consolation
2:00PM - Championship
TICKETS $5.00 - ONE DAY TICKET (GOOD FOR TWO GAMES THE DAY PURCHASED)
$15.00 - SUPER TICKET (GOOD FOR ALL GAMES - INCLUDING CHAMPIONSHIP)
NO ADVANCED TICKET SALES AVAILABLE
BARUCH COLLEGE
ARC FACILITY
55 LEXINGTON AVENUE @24th ST. TRANSPORTATION: MTA #6, F, N OR R TO 23rd ST.
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=yspsctnhdln>A worthy place to bide some time</TD></TR><TR><TD height=7><SPACER type="block" width="1" height="1"></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>By Mike DeCourcy - SportingNews
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He is so good, he will redefine the initials O.J. That's how good O.J. Mayo is. Unless you are among the hopeless addicts who showed up at the Reebok ABCD Camp or the Big Time tournament or the USA Basketball Youth Development Festival -- and congratulations, if you are -- you probably have not yet seen Mayo play this game. So you read about him and wonder whether he's as good as has been described in print. And he's not. He's better.
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Mayo is a 6-4 point guard who will be a junior at North College Hill High in Cincinnati. He has been among the nation's most famous high school players since he was a seventh-grader starring for a Kentucky high school. With his size, strength, athleticism and skills, he almost certainly will be the No. 1 overall pick when he enters the NBA draft.
But what route will he follow to get there? Mayo has said he will be fine attending college now that the NBA passed a rule mandating draft entrants be at least 19 and one year beyond high school graduation. Mayo will reach that age before finishing high school, but the one-year-out requirement will force him to occupy himself until June 2008.
Mayo could play a year at a prep school. He could work a year with a personal trainer, avoiding formal competition. He could earn excellent money overseas, plus more from a shoe company endorsement. He could sue the NBA, but the suit would face a tough climb given Maurice Clarett's failure in a similar case against the NFL.
Or, Mayo could play in college.
Which is what he needs.
There is so little about the game that Mayo does not do exceptionally well. He changes direction at full speed. He is a spectacular shooter. He gets open with moves others can't conceive. He is a superb, unselfish passer.
The problem is competition. His high school games mostly are a joke; North College Hill won its state tournament games by an average of 29.5 points. His loaded club team, the D1 Greyhounds, only rarely encounter worthy competition.
The Greyhounds did lose to Greg Oden and the Spiece Indy Heat in Las Vegas at the Big Time tournament championship, a game that featured more likely future pros than many Final Four battles. That gave Mayo a dose of what college basketball would be like. But college crowds would be larger, the pressure greater, the opposition more sophisticated. Opponents have time to scout you in college. For Mayo to become the best player he can be, he needs that. He already has conquered the overmatched and unprepared. Many, many times.
There is a common belief among college coaches that Mayo will avoid the risk of injury or exposure in college and choose prep school. That would provide no benefit; by the time he finishes his senior year at North College Hill, he will have played against high school kids for six years. Insurance could protect him against a college injury that would end his career or damage his draft position.
And exposure? Not a chance. He's too good.
He is so good, in fact, that some day the initials O.J. will not be an easy punch line on late-night television or morning drive radio. They once again will be spoken with a sense of wonder and awe. Senior writer Mike DeCourcy covers college basketball for Sporting News. E-mail him at [email protected].
<TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=0 width="98%" align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD colSpan=3>Scout.com Class of 2007 Rankings
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Mike Beasley (J. Hawkins)
</TD><TD noWrap width=3></TD><TD vAlign=top>By Dave Telep & Staff Scout.com
Date: Aug 12, 2005
O.J. Mayo fended off all comers to retain his top spot in the Class of 2007 rankings. While Mayo, Mike Beasley (pictured) and Kevin Love are constants in the Top 3, there’s at least one new face in the Top 10.
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<CENTER>Scout.com’s 2007 Post-Summer Top 50</CENTER>
Can anyone catch O.J. Mayo? We’ll probably be asking ourselves that question at the end of the 2005-2006 school year. It seems like Mayo has had a stranglehold on the top slot in the Class of 2007 for sometime now.
So far, so good for the North College Hill standout. Mayo, the single biggest attraction in high school basketball, has withstood the pressure of playing in front of packed gymnasiums each time out and consistently played to a high level.
Mike Beasley, Scout.com’s No. 2 prospect in the class, switched high schools and enrolled at powerful Oak Hill Academy with his friend Nolan Smith (No. 16). Beasley, one of the most versatile forwards around, is a consistent scorer, rebounder and producer. Against older players in the spring and summer, Beasley was remarkably consistent.
Speaking of consistency, Kevin Love isn’t bad either. The best outlet passer in grassroots hoops is also quite the low post scorer. He’ll sneak out to the perimeter and make some jumpers on you and simply knows how to score it inside.
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Rounding out the Top 5 are two backcourt players who bring athleticism to their position. Bill Walker (pictured) is simply the most dynamic dunking machine in the high school game. His throwdowns are genuine momentum changers and more often than not he finishes strong and way above the rim.
While Derrick Rose’s game isn’t nearly as loud as Walker’s, he remains a big time point guard with athleticism, vision, feel and pace. He plays the game much older than his age would lead you to believe.
Most of the names in the remainder of the Top 10 are quite familiar if you follow high school basketball. Kyle Singler (No. 6) missed most of the summer with a knee injury. He remains a primary recruiting target of many elite programs.
Jerryd Bayless (No. 7) put on a show at the Nike All-American Camp to regain his spot in the Top 10 while guys like Cole Aldrich (No. 8) and Eric Gordon (No. 10) have consistently been around the Top 10 for the past year.
<TABLE align=left border=0><TBODY><TR><TD></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>Scout.com’s newcomer to the list is charismatic power forward Herb Pope (shown). He started his summer strong on the camp scene and though he left the AAU Nationals early, he did so after leaving quite an impression. Scout.com released its 2008 Top 15 earlier this week and plans on unveiling its 2006 Top 100 on August 15th! Please check back with us!
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<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD colSpan=2>Movement among top 100 for 2007 <HR width="100%" noShade SIZE=1></TD></TR><TR><TD>Rivals.com
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</TD></TR><TR><TD align=right>Rivals.com</TD></TR><TR><TD height=3>
</TD></TR><TR><TD align=middle>O.J. Mayo</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!-- End Image-->With the summer camp season pretty much over and attention turning to the beginning of school, the folks at Rivals have tinkered a bit with their basketball rankings for the class of 2007.
There was quite a bit of movement -- both ways -- as guys played their way into and out of the rankings. Ohio had three of the top 10 players, including teammates O.J. Mayo and Bill Walker from North College Hill in Cincinnati, and rising star Kosta Koufos from Canton GlenOak.
In all, Ohio had eight players in the top 100, and there were quite a few players listing Ohio State among their schools of choice.
Take a look at the complete rankings and story right here
Exhibitions feature IU freshmen
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By Jeff Rabjohns
<SCRIPT language=JavaScript><!--document.write(''+'jeff.rabjohns'+'@'+'indystar.com'+'');//--></SCRIPT>[email protected]
Three incoming Indiana University men's basketball recruits and the nation's top two prep players in the Class of 2007 are scheduled to play four exhibition games in Indiana next week.
The games will feature IU 6-10 center Ben Allen, 6-6 shooting guard Joey Shaw and 6-3 point guard Earl Calloway, along with three high school players from Cincinnati's North College Hill: 6-4 shooting guard O.J. Mayo, 6-5 forward Billy Walker and 6-10 center Keenan Ellis. Mayo and Walker are the top two prep juniors, according to rivals.com.
Games are scheduled for Milan High School on Monday, Ben Davis on Tuesday, Marion on Wednesday and IU-Southeast in New Albany on Thursday. Tipoff is 7 all nights; admission is $5 for adults, $3 for students.
Mayo, Walker and Ellis, No. 50 in the Class of 2007, have said they plan to play together in college and are considering Indiana among a long list of possible destinations. Ellis began his high school career at Cathedral.
The three won't be on the same team in the exhibitions. Only two players from a high school can be on the same team in a non-scholastic game played after Aug. 1, according to Ohio High School Athletic Association rules. All three played for the D-I Greyhounds, considered the second-best AAU team this summer behind the Greg Oden-led Spiece Indy Heat.
Former Arlington star Deonta Vaughn, who is beginning prep school this fall in Cincinnati, also may play, according to Criss Beyers, one of the directors of the AAU program Indiana Elite, which is promoting the exhibitions.
According to NCAA rules, incoming freshmen are allowed to play with high school prospects until the fall semester begins. For IU, that's Aug. 29.
Ohio prep stars barnstorming Indiana
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By Jeff Rabjohns
<SCRIPT language=JavaScript><!--document.write(''+'jeff.rabjohns'+'@'+'indystar.com'+'');//--></SCRIPT>[email protected]
Basketball fans in the state of Indiana will have a unique opportunity this week to get a sneak peak at the nation's top-ranked high school juniors.
O.J. Mayo and Billy Walker of North College Hill High School in Cincinnati are playing four exhibition games along with three incoming Indiana University freshmen.
If the tour had been played as originally planned, high school eligibility for Mayo and Walker would have been in jeopardy.
On Thursday, organizers said that Mayo, Walker and North College Hill teammate Keenan Ellis were going to play on the same team with the three incoming IU players -- Ben Allen, Joey Shaw and Earl Calloway.
But having three players from one high school on the same team in a contest after Aug. 1 is against Ohio High School Athletic Association rules.
"That's a violation and could place the students eligibility in jeopardy," OHSAA assistant commissioner Deborah Moore said.
When notified by The Star of the potential violation, Criss Beyers, one of the event organizers said, "Is it really? I was not aware of it. Obviously, we don't want that."
Later on Thursday, Beyers said the format would be changed to include only two North College Hill players on the same team, with the other on the opposing squad. Which two play together likely will change from game-to-game, Beyers said.
Organizers began sending out fliers last week, touting the games. When asked about it on Thursday, Mayo said, "I didn't know anything about that. I haven't heard anything about it."
Beyers said he's been assured the three will be playing.
Games are scheduled for Milan High School on Monday, Ben Davis on Tuesday, Marion on Wednesday and IU-Southeast in New Albany on Thursday. Tipoff is 7 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for students.
The touring team will play squads comprised of current or former high school players or former college players. It's legal in the NCAA's eyes because the incoming IU freshman aren't "student-athletes" until the fall semester begins. They are allowed to be in events with other high school players, as long as all rules are followed (players aren't paid, etc.).
What's interesting is that it could be an amazing recruiting tool for Indiana and coach Mike Davis.
The 6-4 Mayo and 6-7 Walker likely would have gone straight to the NBA out of high school under the old system.
Mayo is ranked No. 1, Walker No. 2 and Ellis No. 50 in the 2007 class, by one scouting service.
All three have said they're a package deal and will attend the same college. All three have said Indiana is in the mix of a long list of colleges they've mentioned at various points during the summer, including Florida A&M.
The inclusion of Mayo, Walker and Ellis in the mini tour is a case of interesting bedfellows, at the very least. Their AAU team, D-I Greyhounds, is sponsored by Reebok. This week's tour was originally being promoted by Indiana Elite, an Adidas program, but now will go under the Bloomington Red flag, Beyers said. Indiana University is an Adidas school.
What does all that mean? Who knows?
But this is the summer of Love: the summer when Kevin Love, the top-ranked center in the class of 2007, was kicked off his Nike-sponsored AAU team for playing in the Reebok ABCD camp because he wanted a chance to play against the nation's No. 1 player, Lawrence North center Greg Oden.
O.J. Mayo, Bill Walker and Keenan Ellis, did not attend the event due to a death in Mayo’s family. At this point, there is no announcement that they will play or not play in the All-Star games.<TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=0 width="98%" align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD colSpan=3>IU Recruits Drop Opener in Milan, 120-111
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</TD><TD noWrap width=3></TD><TD vAlign=top>By John Decker
Date: Aug 23, 2005
MILAN-Indiana’s newest crop of recruits were treated to a warm reception by approximately 300 fans in the first of five exhibition games around the state, but the welcome wasn’t quite as friendly from Monday night’s opponent, the Milan All-Stars.
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Not so fast my friend. Cincy fired Huggins to "clean up their image." Maybe they'll have to go to TT or to Okie St to play with JamesOn Curry.
