Saturday, May 18, 2013

Latest southern Colorado news, weather and sports from FOX21 News

USC coach accused of paying Mayo associate
Posted: 05.13.2009 at 7:46 AM
0
Southern California basketball player O.J. Mayo, right, speaks to reporters as coach Tim Floyd listens in Los Angeles.  / AP Photo/Nick Ut, File
Photo

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A former associate of NBA star O.J. Mayo has told Yahoo! Sports that Southern California basketball coach Tim Floyd paid to help get Mayo to play for the Trojans.

In a story posted Tuesday night at Yahoo! Sports, Louis Johnson, the former associate of Mayo's, said Rodney Guillory told Johnson that Floyd had given Guillory "a grand." Johnson said he was able to view $100 bills inside an envelope Guillory had.

Johnson said the payment occurred in 2007. Guillory is a confidant of Mayo's; last year, Johnson accused Guillory of providing Mayo with improper benefits from an agent while the guard played for USC.

Yahoo! Sports reported Johnson has told NCAA investigators and federal authorities — including the FBI, IRS and U.S. Attorney's Office — that Floyd paid Guillory.

If Floyd did pay Guillory for delivering Mayo to USC, that would be a major NCAA violation.

Yahoo! Sports also reported that Southern California is the subject of an NCAA investigation into alleged improprieties in both the football and men's basketball programs.

The football probe stems from allegations of 2005 Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush receiving improper benefits for a sports marketing agent while at USC.

Guillory and Floyd declined to comment to Yahoo! about the latest accusations by Johnson.

USC general counsel Carol Mauch Amir also declined comment.

The NCAA does not comment about ongoing investigations.

Johnson had described Guillory as a "runner" who steered Mayo to the Bill Duffy Associates (BDA) sports agency. Johnson said Guillory received between $200,000 and $250,000 from BDA Sports for his efforts, which resulted in Mayo initially signing with BDA when he left USC after one season for the NBA in April 2008.

Mayo had switched to agent Leon Rose before he was drafted third overall by Memphis last year and was runner-up for the NBA's Rookie of the Year award to Chicago's Derrick Rose.

Johnson's attorneys, Anthony V. Salerno and David Murphy, confirmed to Yahoo! Sports that Johnson had told FBI, IRS and U.S. Attorney's Office investigators on May 28, 2008, about his account of the payment from Floyd to Guillory. Two weeks later, Johnson told the NCAA, according to the attorneys.

Salerno told Yahoo! Sports that Johnson's account to federal authorities carried the threat of potential prosecution if Johnson was found to be lying.

Popular Stories
Thumbnail
10-vehicle crash cripples northbound I-25
Travis Ruiz   |  Yesterday at 9:30 AM  |  1 comment
Thumbnail
Police: Autistic boy found naked in home with dead rodents; two arrested
Abbie Burke  |  Yesterday at 6:55 AM  |  4 comments
Follow FOX21
Get news and weather notifications on your phone by downloading the iPhone or Android app below
Sign up to get alerts and updates for breaking news, severe weather, and deals:
submit
ADVERTISEMENT
Special Features
Texas T-Bone Trivia
A chance to win a steak every Monday through Thursday
FOX21 Deals
Deals to area restaurants and businesses
Senior Living
Assistance for senior citizens
Dining & Entertainment
Info and coupons from local businesses
ADVERTISEMENT