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

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

RIVALS

SCOUT

North College Hill High School (Cincinnati, Ohio)
Ht: 6-5
Wt: 195


Ranked by Rivals.com as the #1 player in the 2007 class. Considered the #1 prospect in Ohio for 2007. O.J. has expressed his desire to go to college rather than the NBA in the past. O.J. is listing Cincinnati, Duke, Georgia Tech, Kentucky, Louisville, Michigan State, North Carolina and West Virginia. Ohio State is actively recruiting him.

Ovinton J'Anthony (O.J.) Mayo started for Rose Hill Christian H.S. (Ashland, KY) since the seventh-grade. He averaged 23.1 points that season and 20.5 as an eighth-grader in leading the school to its first Kentucky state tournament. Transferred to the Ohio school for his freshman season.

One of the most unselfish stars in years. He passes the ball like an advanced player, shoots it deep and there's no way to stop him off the drive in high school. Big time competitor who consistently wins, meets challenges and sets the bar for kids in his class.

SOPH Co-MVP of ABCD underclassman all-star game. Terrific summer performer. Enters his sophomore season as the best PG in America.

FR Perhaps the best freshman in the nation. Mayo led Rose Hill (KY) Christian Academy to the Sweet 16 as an 8th grader, averaging 20.5 ppg. He was named first team all-state in 2002-03 and attended the 2003 adidas ABCD Camp. Led team to 15 and under title at Kingwood in April 2004.

[wadc45]

correct me if I am wrong bn44820...despite not being listed as a contender for his services, isn't OSU actively recruiting OJ? I know it is extremely early and Rivals doesn't even have a list of schools for him yet, so should we not be worried that OSU is not mentioned right now?

[OH10]

He's a one year and done type deal. Already 17 as a sophomore. By the time he's 20, he'll be ready for the NBA, and he knows it.

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

correct me if I am wrong bn44820...despite not being listed as a contender for his services, isn't OSU actively recruiting OJ? I know it is extremely early and Rivals doesn't even have a list of schools for him yet, so should we not be worried that OSU is not mentioned right now?
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wadc45...you are not wrong....tOSU is actively recruiting him and at this early stage there is no need to worry.

He's a one year and done type deal. Already 17 as a sophomore. By the time he's 20, he'll be ready for the NBA, and he knows it.

StadiumDorm.....that is possible, but he has indicated a real desire to make his mark in college and fine tune his game.

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

SCOUT

3/1/05

O.J. was named 2004-2005 Division III Associated Press Southwestern All-District Player of the Year. He is averaging 28.9 ppg.

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

SCOUT$

3/3/05

O.J. is considered the top player in Ohio regardless of class, even better than Cook. Scout indicates that unless the NBA passing a collective bargaining agreement with an age limit of 20, he will most likely go to the NBA out of high school.

[wadc45]

Trojans put to the test, but Mayo closes deal

Photo: North College Hill's O.J. Mayo drives the ball past New Albany's Mitch Robertson in their Southwest District Boys Regional game.

Division III boys: NCH, Fenwick advance

By Carey Hoffman
Enquirer contributor

FAIRBORN - North College Hill faced its toughest test of the tournament Thursday night, but even a great game plan that was well-executed wasn't enough to overcome the talents of sophomores Bill Walker and O.J. Mayo.
New Albany trailed by only six points with 4:30 left in the game, but Mayo scored 12 of the final 14 points for NCH to set up a 58-43 victory in a Division III regional semifinal played at Wright State's Nutter Center.

NCH (24-1), the top-ranked team in Ohio Division III, will next shoot for a trip to the state tournament when it faces Fenwick in the regional title game on Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

From an NCH perspective, the game can be divided into two distinct sections. There was the first half, which was all Walker - 19 points on 9-of-10 shooting. Then there were the final nine minutes of the game, when Mayo went from having just two points to a total of 21, including 17 of NCH's 19 points in the final quarter.

"In the first half, we had two kids on Walker, so in the second half we went to a triangle on him, and then Mayo gets going," said New Albany coach Sam Davis.

NCH led 27-18 at half, but the final 3:30 of the half was played even as New Albany scored on each of its final five possessions of the half to really increase its confidence. The Eagles spread out their offense and had the discipline not to turn the ball over while they searched for opportunities.

New Albany looked like it might be in even better position when David Klink's jumper with five seconds left cut the deficit to 25-18, but Mayo threw a baseball pass off the inbounds to Walker, who dunked to end the half.

"You just can't (afford to) do anything wrong against them," Davis said.

NCH made some adjustments defensively that helped hold New Albany at bay as the second half progressed. Trojans coach Jamie Mahaffey called timeout late in the third quarter with the lead at 33-28, and sent his team farther out on the floor to pressure New Albany's small lineup.

That produced three straight turnovers which NCH used to create a 6-0 run to close the quarter.

"It was kind of a strange game, but it was a good game for us," said Mahaffey. "It was a game of patience. You could get what you wanted, if you were willing to work for it."

Walker led all scorers with 24 points and grabbed 13 rebounds. Mayo scored 21.

New Albany (18-7) - Campbell 0 1 1, Weldon 4 4 12, Robertson 1 0 2, Klink 7 2 20, Peters 1 0 2, Armstrong 2 0 5, Martin 0 1 1. Totals: 15-42 8-11 43.

North College Hill (24-1) - Mayo 5 10 21, Ellis 5 1 11, Walker 11 2 24, Goins 1 0 2, Butler 0 0 0. Totals: 22-42 13-14 58.