Nobody should be surprised by the O.J. Mayo allegations.
The hand-writing has been on the wall for years.
No phenom can frequent the basketball circuit of shoe companies, high-profile camps and even higher level AAU tournaments without being tainted.
Add a transient, nomadic prep existence involving three schools in three different states to the scenario and it would take a quantum leap of naïveté to believe Mayo didn't accept money and gifts along the way.
But the hand-writing isn't merely on the wall anymore. Now, it's on Western Union wire receipts, Citibank Smith Barney account withdrawals slips and T-Mobile cell phone invoices.
And ESPN's "Outside the Lines" has all that evidence ... and then some.
It all exploded when former Long Beach Press-Telegram sportswriter Louis Johnson told "Outside the Lines" that Mayo's mentor, Rodney Guillory, gave the Huntington native about $30,000 and other benefits during the last four years.
That time-frame includes Mayo's 2006-07 school year at Huntington High School, which included he and Patrick Patterson leading the Highlanders to a third consecutive Class AAA state championship.
In fact, Johnson claims he and Guillory made at least four cross-country trips from Southern California to Huntington during Mayo's senior year just to maintain their close relationship.
The basis of that relationship is Johnson and Guillory are called "runners" in the sometimes seamy world of collegiate basketball. They are middlemen that develop close friendships with high-profile players in hopes of delivering the athletes to a sports agent they represent.
In Mayo's case, the alleged agency is Bill Duffy Associates Sports Management.
That's why Johnson and Guillory would reserve rooms for several days at Huntington area hotels during each visit or stay with the mother of Mayo's girlfriend in Cincinnati, then drive to Huntington.
They accomplished their mission.
When Mayo, 20, announced he would forgo his sophomore year at Southern Cal to enter the draft, he did indeed sign with Bill Duffy Associates. The 6-foot-5 guard is expected to be a lottery pick in the NBA Draft on June 26.
But will these allegations affect Mayo's draft status? They could. Character issues often do.
This much is known. There are sure to be investigations. The NCAA definitely will get involved and coming on the heels of the Reggie Bush scandal, it doesn't look good for Southern Cal.
Closer to home, if the NCAA discovers the allegations against Mayo are true it could create repercussions with the Secondary School Activities Commission and West Virginia Sportswriters Association.
If it's proven Mayo accepted money as a high school senior, there's a possibility the SSAC could direct the Highlanders to forfeit their 25 victories and Class AAA title.
"It's all preliminary right now," said SSAC executive director Gary Ray, who watched most of ESPN's "Outside the Lines" telecast Sunday. "I haven't even taken the time to review it yet.
"If we did get some legitimate information, we would assess things from our perspective."
The same is true of Mayo's 2007 Bill Evans Award, as the state's Player of the Year.
"We have to wait and see how it plays out," said Doug Huff, veteran secretary/treasurer of the W.Va. Sportswriters Association.
"Now, if the SSAC rules they're going to take away the state championship because of this, we will have to take a harder look. But we can't rush to judgment. I am sure a lot more will come out in the next couple of months."
So, now, we will sit and wait for the other high-priced sneaker to drop. And, again, nobody should be surprised.
At one point, Mayo's legal guardian was his AAU coach.
Doesn't that say it all?
Chuck Landon is a sports columnist for The Herald-Dispatch. Call him at 526-2827. E-mail him at clandon@herald-dispatch.com.
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