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USC's Mayo Accused of Taking Gifts

College faces sanctions if star accepted illegal benefits from future agent

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted May 12, 2008 9:56 AM CDT

(Newser) – USC star OJ Mayo received tens of thousands of dollars from the agency that would eventually represent him, a violation of NCAA rules, according to former friend Louis Johnson. The money was allegedly funneled through one Rodney Guillory, who lavished on Mayo just a fraction of what the agency gave him. If the allegations prove true, USC could face NCAA sanctions, the Los Angeles Times reports.

“OJ has been pimped by Rodney,” Johnson told ESPN, providing receipts to back up his claims. Mayo denied the report, and said Guillory had been “like family” to him. “If these claims were true I would suspect they would have been discovered” by the NCAA, Pac-10, or USC, he said.

NBA-bound USC freshman O.J. Mayo smiles during a news conference at the USC Galen Center in Los Angeles in this file photo.
NBA-bound USC freshman O.J. Mayo smiles during a news conference at the USC Galen Center in Los Angeles in this file photo.   (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
Southern California's O.J. Mayo takes a shot during practice for the NCAA Midwest Regional basketball tournament in Omaha, Neb., Wednesday, March 19, 2008.
Southern California's O.J. Mayo takes a shot during practice for the NCAA Midwest Regional basketball tournament in Omaha, Neb., Wednesday, March 19, 2008.   (AP Photo/Dave Weaver, FILE)
Southern California guard O.J. Mayo, left, pulls down a rebound against Stanford forward Brook Lopez in the second half of a basketball game in Los Angeles on Saturday, March 8, 2008.
Southern California guard O.J. Mayo, left, pulls down a rebound against Stanford forward Brook Lopez in the second half of a basketball game in Los Angeles on Saturday, March 8, 2008.   (AP Photo/Mark Avery)
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