Mayo and Walker show could be over

[WVRed]

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.d...378/1069/SPT03

NCH's Mayo ponders transfer
Basketball star visited Oak Hill
BY DUSTIN DOW AND TOM GROESCHEN | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITERS

O.J. Mayo, one of the best high school basketball players in the country, might not return to North College Hill High School for his senior season.

According to a source, Mayo visited Oak Hill Academy, a prep school in Mouth of Wilson, Va., Thursday, shot baskets in the school's gymnasium and is considering transferring to the school.

Oak Hill Academy coach Steve Smith did not comment Friday. Joe Nickel, NCH's athletic director, said Mayo still is enrolled at his school.
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"I don't have any information to say no or yes, but I've been hearing this (transfer rumor) a lot more than in the past," Nickel said. "That's a family issue, and I have no information on it."

The source said Mayo plans to finish the academic year at NCH before publicizing a decision about his intentions for next season.

Mayo was unavailable for comment.

Oak Hill is a perennial powerhouse, with 17 former players drafted by the NBA in the past 20 years. With a record of 40-1, it finished No. 2 in USA Today's boys' basketball rankings this season. North College Hill was third, losing only to Oak Hill, 88-74 in February.

The Trojans, who have won the past two Ohio Division III state titles, might not be the only team to lose Mayo. He is in Houston this weekend, playing in a tournament for the Miami Tropics, a summer-league team.

This is significant because it represents a split - at least temporarily - from the summer-league team that Mayo has been playing for: the North College Hill D-I Greyhounds, who are coached by Mayo's guardian, Dwaine Barnes.

"O.J. has known of our program, and he wanted to play in this tournament," Art Alvarez, Miami Tropics coach, said. "He looked at the teams playing, and he chose us."

Alvarez said Mayo's switch to the Tropics could be permanent.

"We'll see how it goes from there," Alvarez said.

Alvarez is close friends with former University of Cincinnati coach Bob Huggins, now coach of Kansas State. The Tropics' roster includes 7-foot-2 center Jason Bennett, who will play at Kansas State next season.

Alvarez said his relationship with Huggins and a Huggins assistant, Frank Martin - who is a former UC assistant - helped attract Mayo.

Mayo has said Kansas State is on his list of possible colleges.

Huggins first established a relationship with Mayo and Barnes when Huggins was at UC. Huggins left UC in August.

Citing NCAA rules that prohibit him from speaking publicly about unsigned prospects, Huggins declined to comment on Mayo Friday.

The Tropics are sponsored by Nike, as are Oak Hill Academy and Kansas State.

Reebok sponsors the Greyhounds, and NCH plays in Reebok uniforms.

Alvarez said Mayo's decision to play for Miami "isn't about the shoes."

Said Alvarez: "O.J. doesn't have a contract with Reebok. These kids aren't professionals. From what I understand, he just doesn't want to play with (the D-I Greyhounds)."

Barnes did not return messages left on his cell phone.

Leon Murray, who starred for NCH in the 1970s, is a friend and mentor to Mayo and said he is unaware that Mayo wants to leave.

Mayo, who transferred to NCH from Rose Hill (Ky.) Christian in spring 2003, broke Murray's NCH career scoring mark this past season.

"He's told me personally his goal is to win three straight (Division III) state titles (at NCH)," Murray said.

Should Mayo decide to play at Oak Hill next season, fans might get a glimpse of the future of Kansas State basketball. One of Oak Hill's top returning players, Michael Beasley, publicly has listed KSU as his No. 1 choice.

Mayo is ranked the No. 1 overall prospect in the class of 2007 by Rivals.com, a recruiting Web site that has Beasley listed at No. 3.

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.d...346/1069/SPT03

HSAA conducts Walker hearing
Eligibility of NCH star in question
BY TOM GROESCHEN | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER

Bill Walker, as with fellow junior superstar O.J. Mayo, is facing questions about whether he will return to the North College Hill basketball team next season.

While Mayo reportedly mulls a transfer to Oak Hill Academy (Va.), Walker this week attended a hearing with Ohio High School Athletic Association officials regarding Walker's eligibility for the 2006-07 season.

In question is how many semesters Walker will have attended school at NCH, following his transfer from Rose Hill Christian (Ky.) as an eighth-grader.
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Bob Goldring, an OHSAA assistant commissioner, confirmed that Walker, at least one Walker family member and NCH representatives appeared before the OHSAA on Thursday. Nothing was decided for now, Goldring said, but indications are Walker will be eligible for the 2006-07 season.

"I can't recall what got the ball rolling on this, but sometime during the winter there was some concern expressed about his eligibility for next year ... in terms of how many semesters he actually has at the high school level," Goldring said. "It became confusing, based on his schooling prior to entering NCH."

NCH athletic director Joe Nickel said he cannot discuss the matter.

OHSAA bylaws stipulate that a student-athlete has eight semesters to participate in athletics, from the time a student begins ninth grade.

Since seventh grade, Walker has attended schools in Ohio, West Virginia and Kentucky. One issue is whether Rose Hill Christian listed him as a ninth-grader when Walker actually was still in eighth grade.

Walker and Mayo wound up at NCH during their eighth-grade year, and the two players first appeared on the NCH varsity roster as freshmen in the 2003-04 season.

The players' ages are not issues. OHSAA bylaws state that a senior athlete cannot turn 19 before Aug. 1 of his senior year, and both Mayo and Walker will turn 19 in autumn 2006.

Walker and Mayo are consensus national top-five rated players in their class, with Mayo listed No. 1 and Walker from No. 2 to No. 4 by top scouting services such as Scout .com and Hoop Scoop.

Walker, a 6-foot-6 power forward, last season averaged 21.7 points and 10.1 rebounds in helping lead NCH to its second straight Ohio Division III championship. He was a Parade second-team All-American.

Former University of Cincinnati coach Bob Huggins, now at Kansas State, is rumored to be a front-runner to land Mayo and Walker. Another top Huggins target is 6-8 forward Michael Beasley of Oak Hill Academy, who told the Kansas City Star he is leaning toward K-State.

Beasley also told the Kansas City paper that Walker - and maybe Mayo - could follow.

[Hap]

What ever happened to the lady he hit over the head with a chair at the bowling alley? Why don't we ever hear about her?

[redsfan30]

What ever happened to the lady he hit over the head with a chair at the bowling alley? Why don't we ever hear about her?

Or the kid he picked up and threw down, breaking his jaw in the tournament in 2004....we never hear about that, either.

[westofyou]

What ever happened to the lady he hit over the head with a chair at the bowling alley? Why don't we ever hear about her?

That was Allen Iverson's HS rumble too IIRC.

[redsfan30]

That was Allen Iverson's HS rumble too IIRC.

Sure was.

[Chip R]

What ever happened to the lady he hit over the head with a chair at the bowling alley? Why don't we ever hear about her?

If they transfer we probably will hear about that stuff again.

[CrackerJack]

What ever happened to the lady he hit over the head with a chair at the bowling alley? Why don't we ever hear about her?

Sounds like a typical Huggins recruit.

And yes I am a big UC fan.

[WVRed]

Well, looks like OJ wont be playing for Oak Hill anytime soon. Kudos to Steve Smith and OHA on this one.

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.d...12012/1062/SPT

Oak Hill turns down Mayo
School recently learned of star's suspension
BY TOM GROESCHEN | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER

O.J. Mayo, one of the top high school basketball players in the nation, will not be transferring to Oak Hill Academy (Va.) for his senior season, and it remains unclear if he will return to North College Hill.

According to a source, Mayo and those surrounding him, have been told by Oak Hill that the school will not accept him for the 2006-07 season. The source told The Enquirer today that, at the time Mayo visited Oak Hill last week, the school was not aware that Mayo had been suspended by North College Hill.

The source said Oak Hill asked Mayo, during his visit, if he needed to tell them anything more about himself. Mayo did not volunteer details of his suspension to Oak Hill, and Oak Hill officials were displeased to learn two days later of Mayo’s suspension.
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Therefore, Oak Hill has since told Mayo that the school is no longer an option for him. Oak Hill reportedly wanted to make sure Mayo was not in any more trouble, having known of another reported suspension for fighting before the 2005-06 basketball season, and also of the highly publicized one-game suspension at this year’s state semifinals for missing some school classes.

Oak Hill Academy coach Steve Smith would not comment today when the Enquirer asked about Mayo.

Joe Nickel, NCH athletic director, said Mayo is still enrolled at the school but Nickel said the school is not releasing any information about Mayo or any other student, citing rules regarding students’ privacy.

The source also said Mayo’s suspension might be more than 10 days, but far less than the 180 days another media outlet reported earlier this week.

Bill Walker, Mayo’s fellow NCH junior basketball star, told the Enquirer this week that Mayo had been suspended 10 days for a fight at school.

Mayo has been unavailable for comment.
Dwaine Barnes, Mayo’s legal guardian and AAU coach, has not returned repeated phone messages from the Enquirer in recent weeks.

Oak Hill is a perennial national power, with 17 former players drafted by the NBA in the past 20 years. With a record of 40-1, it finished No. 2 in the USA Today boys’ basketball ratings this season. North College Hill (26-1) finished No. 3, losing only to Oak Hill 88-74 in February at US Bank Arena.

NCH has won two consecutive Ohio Division III championships led by Mayo, who repeated this season as Ohio Mr. Basketball. Mayo, a 6-foot-4 guard, has averaged between 27 and 30 points a game in each of his three varsity seasons at NCH.

Mayo, the No. 1 rated junior by most scouting services, is scheduled to be in Akron tonight , playing for the AAU D-I Greyhounds in the King James Shooting Stars Classic.

[BigRed]

Why don't they transfer to a school in Manhattan KS instead of Oak Hill? Huggins has them locked up and ready to go there, doesn't he?

[Caveat Emperor]

Why don't they transfer to a school in Manhattan KS instead of Oak Hill? Huggins has them locked up and ready to go there, doesn't he?

As long as they don't go play for Morgan Wooten at the hated and dispised DaMatha High School in Hyattsville, MD -- I could care less where either of these two gentlemen go to sch- I mean, play basketball.

It is kinda crazy though -- high school kids transferring around for better sports opportunities. I guess when you're as talented as both these kids are, you have to look at it as a career move.

[flyer85]

Why don't they transfer to a school in Manhattan KS instead of Oak Hill? Huggins has them locked up and ready to go there, doesn't he?

Spending a year in the middle of nowhere might convince them KSU isn't too great of a place.

[WMR]

They could go to Scott County High School for a year if they'd like.

We'll even try and rustle up some sweet Toyota jobs for their relatives.

[WVRed]

They could go to Scott County High School for a year if they'd like.

We'll even try and rustle up some sweet Toyota jobs for their relatives.

They could go back to Rose Hill in Ashland. It would be nice to see the public schools boycott them again.

[Reds4Life]

I'm still not convinced OJ will ever play college ball. When his senior year starts to wind down he's going to have several shoe companies waving very large checks in his face to play on some tour for them until he's eligible for the NBA.

[Caveat Emperor]

I'm still not convinced OJ will ever play college ball. When his senior year starts to wind down he's going to have several shoe companies waving very large checks in his face to play on some tour for them until he's eligible for the NBA.

He'd have to come up with a good nickname, though -- like Skip to My Lou or Half Man, Half Amazing.

That's almost as tough as going to college.