Gallery: O.J. Mayo through the years

File photo/The Herald-Dispatch

Douglass-Cammack running back O.J. Mayo blows by Barboursville defenders Dax Adkins (00) and John Saunder (21) in the C game of the Turf Bowl in November 1997 at Fairfield Stadium.

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Douglass-Cammack O.J. Mayo runs by Barboursville defenders Ronnie Patrick, left, and Deron Keaton during November 1997's Turf Bowl action at Fairfield Stadium.

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Dutch Miller shortstop O.J. Mayo and second baseman Drew Hetzer both move to catch a throw as Dolin Supply Jacob Eddins slides into second base during a little league game in May 1998 at League 3.

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Huntington Red's O.J. Mayo goes up for the shot while being fouled by Dayton (Ohio) Airman Nathan Cole in the 10-year-old championship game of the Jack Butler Memorial YMCA Buddy League tournament in March 1999.

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The Huntington Express team, front row from left, Wade Midkiff, Vinny Cheeks, Jamaal Williams, Michael Taylor; back row, from left, Nico Newell, Bill Walker, O.J. Mayo, Heath Thomas.

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Rose Hill's O.J. Mayo, right, shoots over Spring Valley's Brandon Moore during the first half in February 2003 at the St. Joe Invitational at the Veterans Memorial Field House.

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Despite lacing up size 14 shoes, standing 6-foot 4-inches tall, weighing in at 180 pounds and playing on the varsity squad of the Rose Hill High School basketball team, 14-year-old seventh-grader O.J. Mayo has been able to keep a down-to-earth outlook on his promising future. Photo taken February 2003.

File photo/The Herald-Dispatch

Despite lacing up size 14 shoes, standing 6-foot 4-inches tall, weighing in at 180 pounds and playing on the varsity squad of the Rose Hill High School basketball team, 14-year-old seventh-grader O.J. Mayo has been able to keep a down-to-earth outlook on his promising future. Photo taken February 2003.

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O.J. Mayo, center, attempts to drive around former Marshall basketball player Joda Burgess in July 2002 during Huntington Summer Basketball League play at the J.W. Scott Community Center.

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Rashad Thompson, right, defends O.J. Mayo during D1 Greyhounds practice in July 2002 at Marcum Terrace. Two Greyhound teams will represent West Virginia at the B.C.I. tournament in Dallas, Texas, this weekend.

File photo/The Herald-Dispatch

Rose Hill's O.J. Mayo drives to the basket against Morgan County during the first half in January 2003 at Rose Hill.

File photo/The Herald-Dispatch

Despite lacing up size 14 shoes, standing 6-foot 4-inches tall, weighing in at 180 pounds and playing on the varsity squad of the Rose Hill High School basketball team, 14-year-old seventh-grader O.J. Mayo has been able to keep a down-to-earth outlook on his promising future. Photo taken February 2003.

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At 6-foot-5 and 185 pounds, Rose Hill eighth-grader O.J. Mayo has made his presence known on the basketball court in Kentucky. Photo taken in February 2003.

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Huntington native O.J. Mayo, a sophomore with North College Hill, signs autographs for fans on Saturday, Feb. 5, 2005, following a 106-66 blow-out win against Parkersburg South at the Veterans Memorial Field House.

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Huntington natives Bill Walker, left, and O.J. Mayo, now playing for North College Hill, walk back to their team's bench during a break in the action against Parkersburg South on Saturday, Feb. 5, 2005. North College Hill won. 106-66.

File photo/The Herald-Dispatch

March 18, 2005 - Columbus, Ohio - North College Hill's O.J. Mayo backs down a Loudenville defender Friday in the Schottenstein Center at Value City Arena in Columbus as the Trojans went on to beat the Redbirds of Loudenville to advance to the OHSAA Div. III State Championship game against Ironton.

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Huntington native O.J. Mayo, a sophomore with North College Hill, endures a fan trying to get a photo while sitting out the final minutes of the Trojans' game agaisnt Parkersburg South on Saturday, Feb. 5, 2005. North College Hill won, 106-66.

The Herald-Dispatch

Cincinnati North College Hill's O. J. Mayo, left, drives the baseline past Ironton's Brigham Waginger during the Ohio High School Division III Championship, Saturday, March 19, 2005, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)

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North College Hill forward O.J. Mayo pushes through the defense of Wellston (Ohio) forward Josh Ewing during the first quarter of their match-up Saturday, Dec. 10, 2005, at the Border Battle Basketball Classic in Huntington's Veterans Memorial Field House.

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North College Hill's O.J. Mayo prepares to dunk the ball during the first quarter of the Trojans' match-up Saturday, Dec. 10, 2005, against Wellston (Ohio) at the Border Battle Basketball Classic in Huntington's Veterans Memorial Field House.

File photo/The Herald-Dispatch

North College Hill's O.J. Mayo goes up and under during the second period of the Trojans' game Sunday, Dec. 11, 2005, against The Patterson School of Lenoir, N.C. on the final day of the Border Battle Basketball Classic at Veterans Memorial Field House in Huntington, W.Va. Mayo scored 41 points and had 8 rebounds in the Trojans' 75-56 victory.

The Herald-Dispatch

North College Hill junior basketball star O.J. Mayo hands a basketball back to a young fan after signing an autograph, Monday, Jan. 16, 2006, in Cincinnati. North College Hill is ranked among the top prep teams in the nation. (AP Photo/Al Behrman)

The Herald-Dispatch

North College Hill High School junior guard O.J. Mayo shoots a free throw during their win over Taft High School, Monday, Jan. 16, 2006, at Xavier University in Cincinnati. Mayo has been named The Associated Press 2005 Mr. Basketball on Wednesaday, March 22, 2006. (AP Photo/Al Behrman)

The Herald-Dispatch

North College Hill's O.J. Mayo is shown in a photo taken at the school in Cincinnati in this Tuesday, March 15, 2005, file photo. Mayo has been named The Associated Press 2005 Mr. Basketball Wednesday, March 22, 2006. (AP Photo/Cincinnati Enquirer, Jeff Swinger)

Howie McCormick/For The Herald-Dispatch

Huntington High Senior O.J. Mayo, November 2006.

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Huntington High Senior O.J. Mayo, November 2006.

Howie McCormick/For The Herald-Dispatch

Huntington High senior O.J. Mayo, November 2006.

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O.J. Mayo, a 6-foot-5 guard at Huntington High School, announced Thursday, Nov. 16, 2006, afternoon at a news conference in the school's gymnasium that he had signed a National Letter of Intent on Wednesday to play basketball next season at the University of Southern California. Mayo has been ranked the top overall player in the Class of 2007 for more than five years.

File photo/The Herald-Dispatch

O.J. Mayo drives through the defense of Riverside's Thomas Gray during the first half of the Highlanders' 112-40 victory Thursday, Dec. 28, 2006, at the Charleston Civic Center. Mayo earned a triple-double in Thursday's matchup scoring 28 points, 11 rebounds and 12 assists

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O.J. Mayo dunks the ball during the third period of the Highlanders' 105-62 victory over Ripley on Friday, Dec. 15, 2006, at the Veterans Memorial Field House.

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Ricky Dunham, left, and Aaron Slusher double-team O.J. Mayo during the first half of the Highlanders' 80-61 victory over the South Charleston Black Eagles Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2007, at South Charleston High School.

Louis Brems/The Herald-Dispatch

Huntington's O.J. Mayo dunks home two points in the Highlanders' win over Lexington Catholic on Saturday, Jan. 13, 2007, in Lexington, Ky.

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Huntington's O.J. Mayo dunks home two points in the Highlanders' win over Lexington Catholic on Saturday, Jan. 13, 2007, in Lexington, Ky.

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O.J. Mayo puts one down over Lexington Catholic's Nathan Novosel in the Highlanders' win over the Knights on Saturday, Jan. 13, 2007, in Lexington, Ky.

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Fans react as Huntington's O.J. Mayo is escorted from the court Friday, Jan. 26, 2007, after a technical foul for taunting and an altercation with an official during the Highlanders' game against Capital in Charleston, W.Va.

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Huntington's O.J. Mayo drives the baseline around Capitals' Terrence Keeves on Friday, Jan. 26, 2007, at the Charleston Civic Center in Charleston.

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Huntington's O.J. Mayo reverse dunks during the Mountain State Athletic Confefence "Night of Champions" at the Charleston Civic Center against Capital Monday, Feb. 19, 2007.

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The Highlanders' O.J. Mayo flies in for the dunk in the Mountain State Athletic Conference "Night of Champions" Monday, Feb. 19, 2007, in Charleston, W.Va.

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Huntington's O.J. Mayo glides under the basket for a reverse layup against Capital Monday, Feb. 19, 2007, in Charleston, W.Va.

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Huntington's O.J. Mayo and Patrick Patterson take the court at the start of the fourth quarter of the Highlander's 78-76 overtime loss to the No. 1 St. Patrick's Celtics Thursday, February 22, 2007, at Marshall University's Cam Henderson Center.

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Huntington High's O.J. Mayo high five's teammates during player introductions as he is announced as an All-American on Tuesday, March 6, 2007, prior to the Highlanders' Region VIII championship game against the Cabell Midland Knights. The Highlanders advanced to the state tournament with a 96-40 win.

File photo/The Herald-Dispatch

Huntington High's O.J. Mayo laughs with teammates and coaches in the locker room following the Highlanders' win over the Cabell Midland Knights Tuesday, March 6, 2007, in the Region VIII championship game at the Veterans Memorial Fieldhouse. The Highlanders advanced to the state tournament with a compelling 96-40 win.

File photo/The Herald-Dispatch

Huntington High's O.J. Mayo puts down a dunk Tuesday, March 6, 2007, in the Region VIII championship game against the Cabell Midland Knights at the Veterans Memorial Fieldhouse. The Highlanders advanced to the state tournament with a compelling 96-40 win.

File photo/The Herald-Dispatch

Huntington's O.J. Mayo looks to make a long pass down-court Friday, March 16, 2007, during the WVSSAC Class AAA State semifinal against Bridgeport at the Charleston Civic Center.

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Huntington's O.J. Mayo scoops in a shot in front of Bridgeport's Derek Gilbert on Friday, March 16, 2007, during the WVSSAC Class AAA State semifinal at the Charleston Civic Center.

File photo/The Herald-Dispatch

Huntington All-American O.J. Mayo takes a rest on the HHS bench against Bridgeport on Friday, March 16, 2007, during the WVSSAC Class AAA State semifinal at the Charleston Civic Center.

File photo/The Herald-Dispatch

Huntington High All-American O.J. Mayo is photographed Tuesday, March 20, 2007, in the HHS gymnasium by Thomas E. Witte, right, for an upcoming story in USA Today.

File photo/The Herald-Dispatch

McDonald's All-American O.J. Mayo holds out his hand to 5-year-old Robby Bowen as he sits on the lap of his mother, Susan, Thursday, March 22, 2007, during a visit from Mayo, Patrick Patterson and Ronald McDonald to Cabell Huntington Hospital's pediatric unit.

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McDonald's All-American O.J. Mayo shoots video of teammate Patrick Patterson as fans hold up scorecards during the Powerade Jam Fest, Monday, March 26, 2007, at Bellarmine University in Louisville, Ky.

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McDonald's All-American O.J. Mayo signs autographs for young fans during the Powerade Jam Fest, part of the McDonald's All-Star competition, Monday, March 26, 2007, at Bellarmine University in Louisville, Ky.

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Huntington's O.J. Mayo, left, and Patrick Patterson talk things over during a timeout Wednesday, March 28, 2007, during the McDonald's All-American game at Freedom Hall in Louisville, Ky.

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Huntington's O.J. Mayo stands on the court during the singing of the Star Spangled Banner Wednesday, March 28, 2007, prior to the McDonald's High School All-American game at Freedom Hall in Louisville, Ky.

Chris Harris/The Herald-Dispatch

O.J. Mayo participates in the Huntington High School Commencement Saturday June 2, 2007, at the Big Sandy Superstore Arena.

The Associated Press

O.J. Mayo, who played for Southern California, responds to questions during an interview after being selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves as the third overall pick in the NBA basketball draft Thursday, June 26, 2008, in New York.

The Associated Press

O.J. Mayo, who played for Southern California, responds to questions during an interview after being selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves as the third overall pick in the NBA basketball draft Thursday, June 26, 2008, in New York.

File photo/The Herald-Dispatch

O.J. Mayo #32 of Huntington High School dunks against Artesia High School during the first half of their game at the 2007 Basketball Hall of Fame HoopHall Classic at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, N.C.