O.J. Mayo blends in at USC

[obie7661]

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-mayo27aug27,1,6893831.story?coll=la-headlines-sports&ctrack=1&cset=true

http://www.latimes.com/media/photo/2007-08/32136321.jpg

[SuperBran]

wow, in that pic he looks as though he could be oden's middle-aged son.

[monte81]

OJ Mayo is the truth and may lead USC to a great Championship run with all the players returning from a nice tourny run last year! Good luck to the kid and I hope he stays away from any trouble or agents until its time for the NBA! 1 and done for him so Coach Floyd better win it now with the miracle that sent OJ to Cali in the 1st place!

[massillon catholic]

OJ Mayo is the truth and may lead USC to a great Championship run with all the players returning from a nice tourny run last year! Good luck to the kid and I hope he stays away from any trouble or agents until its time for the NBA! 1 and done for him so Coach Floyd better win it now with the miracle that sent OJ to Cali in the 1st place!


Seems like this guy played high school for 8 years!

[monte81]

Seems like this guy played high school for 8 years!

Thats how it is when you start Varsity as a 8th grader and in the spotlight before he took his 1st date. Pressure is on these young kids and only a few can handle it--he is one of them! I hope!

Alot of people hate him and talk trash about him but I would like to see them walk in his shoes--only a few have before him in recent decades---KG, Kobe, and LBJ!!

[massillon catholic]

[QUOTE=monte81;68116]Thats how it is when you start Varsity as a 8th grader and in the spotlight before he took his 1st date.


Now, I remember. Thats how he became ineligible in Ohio and had to transfer to another state.

[monte81]

[QUOTE=monte81;68116]Thats how it is when you start Varsity as a 8th grader and in the spotlight before he took his 1st date.


Now, I remember. Thats how he became ineligible in Ohio and had to transfer to another state.

Bill Walker who plays for Kansas State was the ineligable player his senior season so he graduated early and skipped his senior year. OJ just had to move back to Huntington because Walker went to college and were living with Walkers grandfather in Cincy. Both players played Varsity as 8th graders though.

[massillon catholic]

[QUOTE=massillon catholic;68124]

Bill Walker who plays for Kansas State was the ineligable player his senior season so he graduated early and skipped his senior year. OJ just had to move back to Huntington because Walker went to college and were living with Walkers grandfather in Cincy. Both players played Varsity as 8th graders though.


Wouldn't OJ have been ineligible as well if he started as an 8th grader. BTW, I do remember the Walker guy, he's a good player. Which one got suspended last year?

[SuperBran]

Alot of people hate him and talk trash about him but I would like to see them walk in his shoes--only a few have before him in recent decades---KG, Kobe, and LBJ!!

people speak negatively about him because of his arrogance (and no one can deny that the kid is arrogant) and because of the fact that he seems to always put that "i" in team. the kid lost his teammates in cincy, then jumped ship to go play for another program.

the kid is good, but IMO shouldn't even be mentioned in the same sentence as lebron and kg.

[monte81]

[QUOTE=monte81;68133]


Wouldn't OJ have been ineligible as well if he started as an 8th grader. BTW, I do remember the Walker guy, he's a good player. Which one got suspended last year?

OJ in 05/06 for the Semis! Did you see what he did this season in the Championship game---- he was on a fast break with about a minute in the game. he through the ball from the top of the key against the backboard and dunked the ball. The kicker is after that he through the ball into the stands as to say it over!! Poor sportsmanship but the kid can hoop!

Walker averaged 15.9 a game for KSU before tearing his ACL. He was inelgible because he turned 19 before the date allowed but OJ was still 18. It had nothing to do with athletics or grades

[SuperBran]

[QUOTE=monte81;68145Walker averaged 15.9 a game for KSU before tearing his ACL. He was inelgible because he turned 19 before the date allowed but OJ was still 18. It had nothing to do with athltics or grades[/QUOTE]

many people down here feel that walker was/is a better player than mayo.

[monte81]

many people down here feel that walker was/is a better player than mayo.

All-round game it is close call but OJ has a jumper better than Walker and LBJ at this stage which sets him apart--- offensively but LBJ plays D and is definitely a complete team player.

OJ is arrogant but through the years all HS/college/pro stars get some sort of arrogance he just started young being in the spotlight too young--IMO. 8th graders should not get press in SI and other National magazines. But if you ever met him its a differant story--laid back cool dude.

[austinsm11]

[QUOTE=massillon catholic;68141]
He was inelgible because he turned 19 before the date allowed but OJ was still 18. It had nothing to do with athletics or grades

No, Walker used up all of his eligibility early. HE played as a freshman in KY, then enrolled at North College Hill as an 8th grader.

[austinsm11]

OJ in 05/06 for the Semis! Did you see what he did this season in the Championship game---- he was on a fast break with about a minute in the game. he through the ball from the top of the key against the backboard and dunked the ball. The kicker is after that he through the ball into the stands as to say it over!! Poor sportsmanship but the kid can hoop!

Walker averaged 15.9 a game for KSU before tearing his ACL. He was inelgible because he turned 19 before the date allowed but OJ was still 18. It had nothing to do with athletics or grades

No, Walker used up all of his eligibility early. HE played as a freshman in KY, then enrolled at North College Hill as an 8th grader.

[austinsm11]

many people down here feel that walker was/is a better player than mayo.

I thought he might be as well.

[monte81]

No, Walker used up all of his eligibility early. HE played as a freshman in KY, then enrolled at North College Hill as an 8th grader.

Cool I knew it something like that because I read that both players were on varsity teams as 8th graders. both are good players and Walker may be the more complete player.

[proud to be]

[QUOTE=massillon catholic;68141]

OJ in 05/06 for the Semis! Did you see what he did this season in the Championship game---- he was on a fast break with about a minute in the game. he through the ball from the top of the key against the backboard and dunked the ball. The kicker is after that he through the ball into the stands as to say it over!! Poor sportsmanship but the kid can hoop!



Poor sportsmanship but the kid can hoop??? I would have gotten up and left if I was scouting this kid. He will always think he is bigger than the program, and would have no place on my team. I can't stand the Iverson attitude,

"I'm the MVP of the league, and I have to go to practice?? We're talkin about practice"

That is why Iverson, and others like him NEVER lead their teams to a championship. Isn't it enough to be a great player, you gotta be a great big headcase too?

I love O.J. Mayo's game, but if somebody doesn't get that attitude under control real fast, he will never realize his full potential.

[monte81]

The kids shares the ball on the court, plays defense, and his teammates love him---- he won 3 championships in HS!! Every coach that has coached has nothing but praise and great comments alot his attitude and teamwork. Everything as we see it may not be the real deal---he's showtime but he and his team get it done.

Like I said sometimes we can be to critical of young kids---OJ never said anything about not going to practice. Iverson is his own person and has his opinions and OJ has his and I guees we can see if he can lead a college or pro team to a championship---soon!

Just because he gets up for the cameras doesn't mean he is me player! What about Chad Johnson for the Bengals? I guess he is "me' player as well.

[proud to be]

Just because he gets up for the cameras doesn't mean he is me player! What about Chad Johnson for the Bengals? I guess he is "me' player as well.

ABSOLUTELY!
I think he's a great player, but don't you get tired of him always doing things to single himself out? He is the EPITOME of the me player, and what I hate about the NFL.
Come on Monte, you are a coach. Are you saying that you would let kids on your team act that way without having a discussion with them?

[SuperBran]

he won 3 championships in HS!!

he won three championships because he's played on all-star teams around the country. look at the players that just happened to transfer to oak hills with oj. look at the team he transferred to once he knew walker was gone. the kid has move more than a seasoned nba player! if he's a team player he would have stayed at oak hills. all that crap about wanting to move back to wv was just an excuse.

[monte81]

ABSOLUTELY!
I think he's a great player, but don't you get tired of him always doing things to single himself out? He is the EPITOME of the me player, and what I hate about the NFL.
Come on Monte, you are a coach. Are you saying that you would let kids on your team act that way without having a discussion with them?

My kids are forced to understand that we are a team but do not get it twisted to to think that I don't have 2 or 3 players that I don't want to be without. basketball is a more of a skill sport with one on one type situations and football is alot differant because each play is determined by what your teammates help you do. I have a RB who knows he is best player on my team but works harder than anyone else and is a leader Realistically he is a "me" player as well because he wants the ball but me giving him the ball more frequently helps the team win!

I want any special talent on my team and I think I know how to handle them but my rules apply and they play by them or they are out! Some coaches just let the "me" thing go because the players are TEAM players on the court or field. Shut---I played for me to get a schollie but also played every down to help my team win. If thats a me player than everyone I know who plays sports is a me player. I tell my kids everyday that noone can make you work you have to want to work for yourself but help build the team.

With all that said---coaches make the differance in players but players are the reason for coaches success. I coach for them they play for themselves and want to win as a team. Any me player still has the same desire to win or he wouldn't be playing--IMO and its up to an individual coach to put it together.

[MTown]

He's a punk.

[proud to be]

My kids are forced to understand that we are a team but do not get it twisted to to think that I don't have 2 or 3 players that I don't want to be without. basketball is a more of a skill sport with one on one type situations and football is alot differant because each play is determined by what your teammates help you do. I have a RB who knows he is best player on my team but works harder than anyone else and is a leader Realistically he is a "me" player as well because he wants the ball but me giving him the ball more frequently helps the team win!

I want any special talent on my team and I think I know how to handle them but my rules apply and they play by them or they are out! Some coaches just let the "me" thing go because the players are TEAM players on the court or field. Shut---I played for me to get a schollie but also played every down to help my team win. If thats a me player than everyone I know who plays sports is a me player. I tell my kids everyday that noone can make you work you have to want to work for yourself but help build the team.

With all that said---coaches make the differance in players but players are the reason for coaches success. I coach for them they play for themselves and want to win as a team. Any me player still has the same desire to win or he wouldn't be playing--IMO and its up to an individual coach to put it together.


I totally agree! I guess the definition I have of the "me" player is someone who cares more about his/her individual success, than the team's success. I have coached kids who were actually upset when our team won, and they didn't get the big hit, or, and couldn't be happy for the kid that did.

I also think that today' HS athlete's have been handed way too much, and are put way too high on a pedestal, just because of their athletic ability. I love the comment about playing for yourself to get a schollie, but also to help the team win. That is the difference. Great players want the ball with the game on the line, but they are also willing to throw the key block if that's what it takes. I just hope O.J. gets that because he is an amazing talent, and should be able to get to the promised land. But you know as well as I do, great talent isn't always enough. A great team will most likely outperform a collection of great individuals!

PS: Chad Johnson................ come on man, he's a bad example!!! lol

[monte81]

I totally agree! I guess the definition I have of the "me" player is someone who cares more about his/her individual success, than the team's success. I have coached kids who were actually upset when our team won, and they didn't get the big hit, or, and couldn't be happy for the kid that did.

I also think that today' HS athlete's have been handed way too much, and are put way too high on a pedestal, just because of their athletic ability. I love the comment about playing for yourself to get a schollie, but also to help the team win. That is the difference. Great players want the ball with the game on the line, but they are also willing to throw the key block if that's what it takes. I just hope O.J. gets that because he is an amazing talent, and should be able to get to the promised land. But you know as well as I do, great talent isn't always enough. A great team will most likely outperform a collection of great individuals!

PS: Chad Johnson................ come on man, he's a bad example!!! lol

I have coached kids who despite we won the game were still upset with themselves because they didn't perform better in there own opinion. Thats the type of kids I love to coach because I know they want to get better and its nothing wrong with working on you!

Down in CIncy OJ would practice after practice and any kid that puts in that much work I really cannot complain about as much.

[proud to be]

I have coached kids who despite we won the game were still upset with themselves because they didn't perform better in there own opinion. Thats the type of kids I love to coach because I know they want to get better and its nothing wrong with working on you!

Down in CIncy OJ would practice after practice and any kid that puts in that much work I really cannot complain about as much.

Those are the kids I want too, as long as they are willing to work. The ones I was talking about are the ones that are upset because they didn't get the glory that comes with the big play, and didn't care that we won in spite of it.

I have coached travel baseball and softball for 7 years, and have taken my teams all over the country to compete. You know which kids are there for the team, and which ones are there only for themselves. Usually it is most reflected in the parents.

Sounds like we are talking about the same thing. I hope OJ is as advertised, and I guess it would be tough for a 16-18 year old kid to be worshipped like he was, and keep a totally level head.

Really though........ Chad Johnson???? LOL!!!!!

[monte81]

Chad Johnson is the most arrogant football player in the NFL but works overtime to keep his edge and is top 3 in WR's in the league.

Johnson and Palmer work out together all year round to form the duo that they do. Listing the Db's that he eats up is arrogant and fun to watch--- sports are fun and sometimes officials and commisions take the fun out the game.

[proud to be]

By the way Monte.... forgot to tell you that I met your cousin Q at PTBS last week. Nice guy......... You guys are everywhere!!!

[monte81]

By the way Monte.... forgot to tell you that I met your cousin Q at PTBS last week. Nice guy......... You guys are everywhere!!!

We need a few more for the tigers soon!

[austinsm11]

Cool I knew it something like that because I read that both players were on varsity teams as 8th graders. both are good players and Walker may be the more complete player.

You would think they would have checked the school records a little more carefully.

Of course they may have "looked the other way" knowing the attention players like that may bring to the school.