PG/SG O.J. Mayo (Official Thread)

[crazybuckfan40]

I watched the state title game and this kid can play. He is only a sophmore and he just needs to get a little bigger, but his body will look great by the time he is a senior. He can really see the floor and pass the ball well. Also he shoots the ball with great ease.

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

SCOUT.COM

3/23/05


O.J. Mayo leads MW No. 10 North College Hill

No. 10 North College Hill (Cincinnati, Ohio) capped its season by beating Ironton (Ironton, Ohio), 71-65, in the Division III state championship. Sophomore shooting guard and Ohio Mr. Basketball O.J. Mayo had 22 points, six assists, three rebounds and three steals in the win. He’s rated the No. 1 overall recruit in the Class of 2007 by SchoolSports.com.

[OSUsushichic]

Mayo Leads Team To Finals, Talks About Win
By Steve Helwagen Bucknuts.com Managing Editor
Date: Mar 18, 2005

Super sophomore O.J. Mayo had 21 points today as his North College Hill team blew out Loudonville, 75-42. After the game, Mayo spoke with the media.

Wow, Mayo's team really blew out my alma mater. Those farm boys didn't even have a chance.

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

SCOUT.COM

3/24/05



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O.J. Mayo

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More Boys Basketball Semis In Pictures, D-III

By Gary Housteau

Date: Mar 23, 2005
In the Division III semifinals Cincinnati North College Hill beat Loudonville handily, 75-42, but Ironton had a lot more trouble with Archbold before advancing to the final with a 70-66 win to remain undefeated going into the state final






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[wadc45]

NCH's Mayo wants D-III state 3-peat

Future augurs well for Trojans
By Tom Groeschen
Enquirer staff writer

<!-- ARTICLE SIDEBAR --><TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3 width=185 align=right border=0><!-- MAIN PHOTO --><TBODY><TR><TD class=small_text align=middle>
North College Hill sophomore Keenan Ellis (50) has a lot to shout about after the Trojans beat Ironton for the Division III state title Saturday at Ohio State's Value City Arena.
The Enquirer/Jeff Swinger
Zoom </TD></TR><!-- OTHER FEED PHOTOS --><!--RELATED PHOTO GALLERIES--><!-- RELATED MULTIMEDIA ASSETS --><!-- MAIN FACT BOX --><TR><TD class=sidebar_head>LOOKING STRONG</TD></TR><TR><TD class=sidebar_body>North College Hill's chance to repeat in Division III looks bright, as the Trojans only lose one starter to graduation.

DEPARTING SENIORS

*6-3 G, Darion Goins, 8 ppg

6-6 F, George Victorian, 6 ppg

TOP RETURNEES

(SENIORS IN '05-06)

6-4 F, Andre Evans, 7.2 ppg

6-5 F, Paul Leary, 4.4 ppg

(JUNIORS IN '05-06)

*6-5 G, O.J. Mayo, 27.4 ppg

*6-6 F, Bill Walker, 20.8 ppg

*6-11 C, Keenan Ellis, 14 ppg

6-0 G, Nathaniel Glover, 3.6 ppg

(SOPHOMORES IN '05-06)

*6-0 G, Damon Butler, 6 ppg

*Starter this season

</TD></TR><!-- ADDITIONAL PHOTOS --><!-- RELATED ARTICLES --><!-- RELATED EXTERNAL LINKS --></TBODY></TABLE><!--ARTICLE BODY TEXT-->
O.J. Mayo wants to win three consecutive state titles at North College Hill, essentially spiking rumors that he might transfer to another school.

Mayo and fellow sophomores Bill Walker and Keenan Ellis, all rated among the nation's top boys' basketball players in their class, led NCH to a 71-65 win over Ironton in the Ohio Division III state championship game Saturday in Columbus. Mayo had 22 points, Walker 19 and Ellis 14 in the title game.

"We've got a goal to win three state titles in a row and make history," Mayo said. "We want to leave as a dynasty."

Only two other Ohio boys' schools, Dayton Stivers (1928-30) and Columbus Wehrle (1988-90) have won three straight state basketball titles. Stivers won in Class A, then the big-school division. Wehrle won in Division IV, which remains Ohio's smallest classification.

LeBron James' Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary teams won three state titles in James' four seasons (2000-03), losing the Division II state title game to Roger Bacon in James' junior year.

"We want to be remembered as one of the top programs in any class," Mayo said. "We want to be up there with the Moellers and St. Xaviers and Akron St. Vincent-St. Marys."

Mayo and Walker transferred to NCH two years ago from Rose Hill Christian (Ashland, Ky.). Ellis arrived this season from Indianapolis. Rumors persist that Mayo and Co. next will transfer to national prep power Oak Hill Academy, but the players themselves refute such speculation.

"We set a goal to win state, and we did it," Walker said. "That's one. Two more to go."

NCH will lose two seniors, guard Darion Goins and forward George Victorian. Goins was a starter who averaged 8.0 points a game, while Victorian averaged 6.0 points off the bench.

Mayo, rated the nation's No. 1 sophomore by several scouting services, averaged 27.4 points a game this year and was named Ohio Mr. Basketball. Walker, who averaged 20.8 points, is rated anywhere from the No. 2 to No. 4 sophomore nationally. Ellis, who averaged 14.0 points, ranges between No. 12 and No. 55 in national sophomore ratings.

Point guard Damon Butler, who averaged 6.0 points a game as a freshman starter this year, also will return.

"We've got a great feeling right now, and that will last for a couple of months," NCH coach Jamie Mahaffey said. "But then we'll have to get right back at it."

NCH (27-1) pulverized its small-school Miami Valley Conference rivals by 56.1 points a game. NCH and the MVC have agreed the Trojans will be an "associate member" the next two years, playing each team once instead of twice. NCH will not be eligible for the league title.

The Trojans, rated No. 21 nationally by USA Today, lost only to eventual Division I state runner-up St. Xavier this season. Next season, the Trojans look to again play St. X and possibly other big-school Greater Catholic League and Greater Miami Conference teams.

NCH took a lot of heat for having so many transfers on this year's team, but the Ohio High School Athletic Association said the Trojans have played by the rules.

"We know we'll take everybody's best shot again next year," Mahaffey said. "We went through a lot this year, but our team showed a lot of composure and fought through it."

Email tgroeschen@enquirer.com.

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

SCOUT.COM

3/25/05

O.J. Mayo -- Video Highlights And Interview
By Bucknuts.com Staff
Date: Mar 25, 2005

There's no doubt that the next basketball sensation to come from Ohio is Cincinnati North College Hill sophomore O.J. Mayo. Already rated as the No. 1 prospect in his class, Mayo is one of America's best regardless of class. Today, we have a special look at what Mayo can do on the court as we have video clips of the D-III state title game, courtesy of Ohio News Network. In addition, we have a video interview where you can hear his thoughts on college and more. Click the link for the videos.

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

RIVALS.COM$

4/6/05

by Rodger Bohn
OhioPreps staff writer Rodger Bohn recently had a chance to sit down and talk with arguably the best player in the nation regardless of age, O.J. Mayo. O.J.is a 6’5 sophomore point guard from Cincinnati North College Hill High School, who just won the Ohio Division 3 State Championship. O.J. was also named Ohio Mr. Basketball, becoming only the second sophomore ever to garner the prestigious award, along with Cavs star LeBron James. Here is what O.J. had to say.[more]

O.J. states that he is going to go to college and the proposed age limit issue in the NBA will not effect him. When aksed about what schools he is interested in, he is just looking at conferences at this point. O.J. also states that he and Bill Walker will be a package deal.

[wadc45]

oddly he did not mention the SEC...I would have to think that Kentucky eventually ends up on his short list.

[BuckTwenty]

I am thrilled that Mayo is wanting to go to college, rather than skipping for the NBA right away! College basketball needs more high school stars to sharpen their skills at the college level before making the leap, for the league's sake (talent level) and for college basketball fans all around the nation. I think many high schoolers took in March Madness and saw what excitement and fun they can have in March.

Saw his college list on the first post, but couldn't find an updated list since then(probably because everyone thought he'd skip for the NBA). He listed Cincinnati, Duke, Georgia Tech, Kentucky, Louisville, Michigan State, North Carolina and West Virginia back in late February. Any updates in schools since then?

[msj2487]

I think I might as well just die if I found out that some way, some how we landed the Conley and Oden package in '06 to go along with Cook and then sealed the deal with Walker and Mayo in '07... It is truely unreal, I know... but if it ever happened, I know I'd die a happy young man to know that tOSU BBall was back on top!

[jimotis4heisman]

i believe "dime" has an article on him, i read it a few days ago but i had never heardof/seen the magazine before

[FadeproofBuck]

Originally Posted by msj2487

I think I might as well just die if I found out that some way, some how we landed the Conley and Oden package in '06 to go along with Cook and then sealed the deal with Walker and Mayo in '07... It is truely unreal, I know... but if it ever happened, I know I'd die a happy young man to know that tOSU BBall was back on top!

I hear that, as much of a football school as Ohio State is, I'm urning for the basketball team to return to a top basketball school, this not making the tournament is hurting me,.

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

LINK

4/8/05

O.J. was named a EA SPORTS All-American....

<TABLE style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" borderColor=#111111 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="90%" border=1><TBODY><TR><TD width="89%">O. J. Mayo (North College Hill, <?XML:NAMESPACE PREFIX = ST1 /><ST1:PLACE w:st="on"><ST1:CITY w:st="on">Cincinnati</ST1:CITY>, <ST1:STATE w:st="on">Ohio</ST1:STATE></ST1:PLACE>) 6-5 Soph. Guard</TD><TD width="14%"> </TD></TR><TR><TD width="89%">The nation's top 10th-grader led his team to its first state tournament appearance in 16 years as the Trojans won the Ohio Div. III title. Mayo scored 22 points in the title game and averaged 28.9 points, 7.8 rebounds, 7.7 assists, and 3.4 steals per game. With three sophomores in its lineup, NCH finished with a 25-1 record and the team has been ranked No. 1 in <ST1:STATE w:st="on"><ST1:PLACE w:st="on">Ohio</ST1:PLACE></ST1:STATE> in both of Mayo's varsity seasons. Last season's Student Sports National Freshman of the Year also was named Ohio Mr. Basketball this season. He joins current NBA star LeBron James as only the second 10th grader to win the award in the state's rich basketball history.</TD><TD width="14%"></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

[jimotis4heisman]

so often forgotten

state's rich basketball history

[akronbuck]

the ohio soph class is a dream for matta and ohio state

walker , mayo. comegys, pogue, ellis and that kid from greenfield would all start for the buckeyes right now . dials would beat out one of the big kids but, thats lt.

mayo will go pro and maybe, walker