OJ Mayo to stay for sophmore year

[King Felix]

After beating Stanford, O.J. Mayo told the media in the locker room that he's coming back for next year and that he's signing up for summer school classes.

UPDATE: I was in the conference room prepping the audio from Floyd's post-game comments when Mayo told a group of reporters that he was coming back. One person told me Mayo was smiling like he was just pulling everybody's leg.

I went back to the locker room and was the last person to talk to Mayo. I asked him to confirm that he was coming back and planned to enroll in classes. He looked me in the eye and said "yes."

He also confirmed that he isn't enrolled in summer classes yet, but will do so.

If you listen to the end of Floyd's post-game press conference, he makes a big deal about what a good kid O.J. Mayo is. We all know that he was unconventional in choosing USC, and he's done nothing but surprise everybody in pretty much everything he does -- in a good way.

As surprising as this move is, maybe it shouldn't be.

OK, OK, it's shocking. And great news.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/allthingstrojan/

USC will be contenders next year with derozan and jefferson too..

 

[Amars]

Wow. Very risky.

He really trying to turn around his image. Tim Floyd was on the radio saying that he's gym rat and so motivated to winning. In the summer before even he started at USC he would get up at 5:30 am and wake up his teammate so they can start working out/practicing.

 

[Ferretsquig]

The one year rule strikes again. Remember when Mayo was the top player in his class and the next great PG? I guess someone told him hes barely in the lottery these days.

 

[Amars]

I think he can go as high as a top 5 pick.

 

[mf52dolphin]

Well Mayo has had somewhat of a disapointing year. Also interestingly when Billy Packer was out to broadcast the initial USC/UCLA game this year, he made the statement that he was not overly impressed with Mayo, and that Mayo could be a good player, but that he was not a great player.
It is very possible that Mayo may feel that he needs to have a better year, by staying for another year, to get back to that top-3 draft level.

 

[vmarcilfan75]

They can battle for second
UCLA will win the conference again.

 

[ChambersWI]

I don't buy it too much. Mayo will more than likely declare when all is said and done. Durant and Oden said the same thing. Beasely is saying the same thing too (though I'd believe Beasely more than Mayo).

At the same time, if Mayo is serious it is the best thing for him. He's literally been hyped since he was in 8th grade, and he really has not lived up to the hype people gave him (it really goes back to the McDonald's All-American game). Not a true PG, and not a very good shooter, so one more year to refine is game would be great for him.

 

[QuenteK25]

I don't buy it too much. Mayo will more than likely declare when all is said and done. Durant and Oden said the same thing.

Just what I was thinking when I heard this on SC last night. I'd be surprised if Mayo or Beasley stayed another year. I'd like to see them both stay, but the money calls...

 

[Regan21286]

If this is true, damn. Though it'd be a surprise considering how much money he'd get. Oh well, I think we'll be fine since we handled him quite well anyways.