Trio shines at WVU basketball showcase

By Matt Keller
TRIBUNE REVIEW
Saturday, July 16, 2005


MORGANTOWN, W.Va. -- A package deal exists, O.J. Mayo says, that could change the face of Big East basketball.

One team will win a three-player jackpot whose drawing is less than 18 months away, and that team will immediately become a contender.

Mayo, the No. 1-rated sophomore prospect in the nation, and teammates Bill Walker (No. 5) and Keenan Ellis (No. 11) are a package deal. The three juniors-to-be at North College Hill High (Cincinnati) changed their entire recruitment with a Three Musketeers mindset.

It's all for one, and one for all. And that's the Catch-22: A coach can have all of them or none. There is no middle ground.

"We want to play together," Mayo said. "That was the agreement. We will through high school, and we will in college."

The three players were the focal point of the Hoop Group Summer Jam Fest held Friday in Morgantown, W.Va. The three-day tournament brings together more than 1,500 players and 100 college coaches in a recruiting see-and-be-seen that is only equaled by New York City's ABCD camp.

Mayo and Walker -- who grew up in Huntington, W.Va. -- and Ellis list Cincinnati, Louisville and West Virginia as solid possibilities. But nobody -- including Pitt or Big Ten schools Penn State, Ohio State or Indiana -- has been ruled out.

"Our families are getting ready to put together a list, and then we'll put it out," Mayo said. "I know I want to go to school, but I don't know about four years."

The three players, considered NBA-caliber, were watched by West Virginia's John Beilein, Cincinnati's Bob Huggins, Indiana's Mike Davis, Pitt assistants and the crowds of more than 1,000 that packed every inch of floor space in WVU's Student Recreation Center.

Their AAU team, the D-I Greyhounds, didn't disappoint, beating two teams by a combined 169-92. Walker led all scorers with 47 points in the two wins, more than half coming on alley-oops and one-handed dunks that awed.

No team could keep pace with Mayo, who scored 37 points while showing his trademark poise and athleticism. Ellis, who needs to add weight to play inside in college, dominated the blocks.

Mayo was once rumored to be considering jumping straight to the NBA, but he has decided to finish high school and attend college for at least one season. The question now is not ability or eligibility, but how much schools will sacrifice for the three players.

Is it worth, for example, signing all three only to have them stay for one season? And how many other players transfer or quit when they lose a position?

"That's just part of our picking and choosing," Mayo said. "That's part of evaluating. They have to make sure they make the right decisions."

I'm not sure how good they'll be in college. Huggins wants 'em,
so I'm sure they're worth it. But I'm glad Calipari is not recruiting this trio.
I hate the whole "package deal" thing and think it's laughable
that high school kids get to make these kinds of power plays.
One great player, one average player, and one that many say has no business
in div. 1A.

And we have some recent experience with this,...Wagner & Co. :laugh:
Although his buddy Barclay ended up being embraced by the Memphis
fans, and his dad got a job(and later a degree), Wagner sucked the one year he gave us.

I wont even comment on his NBA career.

Bambu Wrote:I'm not sure how good they'll be in college. Huggins wants 'em,
so I'm sure they're worth it. But I'm glad Calipari is not recruiting this trio.
I hate the whole "package deal" thing and think it's laughable
that high school kids get to make these kinds of power plays.
One great player, one average player, and one that many say has no business
in div. 1A.

And we have some recent experience with this,...Wagner & Co. :laugh:
Although his buddy Barclay ended up being embraced by the Memphis
fans, and his dad got a job(and later a degree), Wagner sucked the one year he gave us.

I wont even comment on his NBA career.

Have you ever seen them play?? I have three times and Walker and Mayo are the two best high school players ever IMO after LeBron James. It's just not fair how someone can be that great at such a young age. Keenan Ellis is no slouch either, he is consistently ranked in the top 20.

I'm really torn on this.

On the one hand I would want the Neers to get the trio because it would be a big boost to their basketball image and could just solidify them as the up-and-coming basketball program in the BE.

On the other hand, the trio could save Huggins job at Cincinnati. And having a marquee name like Huggins in the Big East definitely helps.

Since I believe the Cincinnati program is attractive enough to attract a solid replacement for Huggins and since I think any school that takes this trio is opening themselves up for NCAA scrutiny - WVU and Beilein might be where they end up.

Cheers,
Neil

omnicarrier Wrote:I'm really torn on this.

On the one hand I would want the Neers to get the trio because it would be a big boost to their basketball image and could just solidify them as the up-and-coming basketball program in the BE.

On the other hand, the trio could save Huggins job at Cincinnati. And having a marquee name like Huggins in the Big East definitely helps.

Since I believe the Cincinnati program is attractive enough to attract a solid replacement for Huggins and since I think any school that takes this trio is opening themselves up for NCAA scrutiny - WVU and Beilein might be where they end up.

Cheers,
Neil

If Huggins is at UC, Mayo and company will lead him back to the final 4.

If they do go to WV Belien is going to have to overhaul his whole offense.

Quote:JFlight21 Posted on Jul 17 2005, 12:11 PM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Quote: (omnicarrier @ Jul 17 2005, 12:05 PM)
I'm really torn on this.

On the one hand I would want the Neers to get the trio because it would be a big boost to their basketball image and could just solidify them as the up-and-coming basketball program in the BE.

On the other hand, the trio could save Huggins job at Cincinnati. And having a marquee name like Huggins in the Big East definitely helps.

Since I believe the Cincinnati program is attractive enough to attract a solid replacement for Huggins and since I think any school that takes this trio is opening themselves up for NCAA scrutiny - WVU and Beilein might be where they end up.

Cheers,
Neil 

If Huggins is at UC, Mayo and company will lead him back to the final 4.

If they do go to WV Belien is going to have to overhaul his whole offense.

That last statement makes me think you don't truly understand Beilein's offense. A penetrating point guard who can also hit the three and an athletic wing player are two key components of it.

Cheers,
Neil

Omnicarrier....There is a third player who still resides in Huntington who happened to grow up with Mayo and Walker by the name of Patrick Patterson....Patterson who is a junior to- be was the WV state player of the yr as a Soph and is already ranked a four star recruit himself....I think most Mountaineer fans go to bed everynigh hoping that the Huntington 3 end up wearing Gold and blue

-- With all due respect to Bimbo Coles, Jason Williams and Brett Nelson...it is amazing that perhaps the best three players to come out of the state since the trinity of Hundley, West and Thorn emerged for WVU in the mid50s- to late 60s are the same age abd from the same town

Quote:If Huggins is at UC, Mayo and company will lead him back to the final 4.

If they do go to WV Belien is going to have to overhaul his whole offense.

-- Mayo and the Belien offense are perfect for each other...and OJ was quoted to acknoledge that fact to several WV newspapers while he was back in the Mountain state

-- Also there was an piece in one of the Cincy papers this morning that mentiones the possibility of Huggins still going to WVU after his last two yrs and taking Mayo and Walker with him...but it would very unlikely that WVU gets rid of Belien no matter who was waiting in the wings...the Coach will probably be able to stay in Morgantown as long as he wants now


Jackson

Jackson1011 Wrote:-- Also there was an piece in one of the Cincy papers this morning that mentiones the possibility of Huggins still going to WVU after his last two yrs and taking Mayo and Walker with him...but it would very unlikely that WVU gets rid of Belien no matter who was waiting in the wings...the Coach will probably be able to stay in Morgantown as long as he wants now

Remember, that was most likley said before Huggins got into his situation and before WV got themselves into the Elite 8. So it is very unlikely for Coach Belien to leave WV in the next 5 years or so

Mayo and co. have made it clear that they want to go where Huggins is......SO.....what would any normal thinking college administration do????? RESIGN HUGGS.....that's exactly why HUGGS is not resigned bc UC's administration is being run by a bunch of RETARDS!

Go Bearcats!!!!!!!!!!!!

Quote:Bearcats#1  Posted on Jul 18 2005, 09:59 AM Mayo and co. have made it clear that they want to go where Huggins is......SO.....what would any normal thinking college administration do????? RESIGN HUGGS.....that's exactly why HUGGS is not resigned bc UC's administration is being run by a bunch of RETARDS!

To play devil's advocate on this issue, if Mayo & Company are successful with the package deal, the thinking might just be that whoever signs them will most likely immediately fall under the scrutiny of the NCAA.

So it wouldn't surprise me in the least that Zimpher doesn't want that type of scrutiny at Cincinnati - especially if tOSU only gets a slap on the wrist. The thinking just might be that the NCAA will be out for blood in their next investigation if they handle the Buckeyes with kid gloves (as many suspect will happen).

Still, somehow, I hope Huggins manages to survive. He's good for the game. The BE lost some great coaching characters from the 80s (Louie, Big John, and Rollie) and never really replaced them.

Cheers,
Neil

Even though the rumors of late say Huggs may give up b-4 the season starts...what if Mayo and Walker commit in the next month. Could Dr Z and Cox really be able to push him out? They could be the only way to save Huggs. They commit of course just verbally
but it would light a whole new fire of passion in the fans.. No doubt
a couple others would commit equaling the Fab group going to OSU in 06. Never a dull moment in Cincy!

two edged sword.
It would have to be a mess with egos, families and each would have his own entourage, agents, and parasites galore. How coachable will they be? On the other hand, you'd be a fool not to take them and deal with the headaches for a year. The publicity to the school's program and attention it would get from other recruits is priceless. You would get in at least one good run to the NCAA championship. The NBA draft would be another free publicity ride..."from the university of _____ the number one, four and six draft picks are.....which would result in even more recruitment momentum. But most of all, if I, as a coach, had a chance to get them....I would take them for one reason mostly. Not for what they could do for me, but to keep anyone else from having them.
By the way, Cincy and WVU are not the only two schools in the hunt. SU, UConn, and Louisville have been mentioned promenently. Whoever wins the Lottery (I guess it's a win) it's likely to be a Big East School.

omnicarrier Wrote:

Quote:Bearcats#1   Posted on Jul 18 2005, 09:59 AM Mayo and co. have made it clear that they want to go where Huggins is......SO.....what would any normal thinking college administration do????? RESIGN HUGGS.....that's exactly why HUGGS is not resigned bc UC's administration is being run by a bunch of RETARDS!

To play devil's advocate on this issue, if Mayo & Company are successful with the package deal, the thinking might just be that whoever signs them will most likely immediately fall under the scrutiny of the NCAA.

So it wouldn't surprise me in the least that Zimpher doesn't want that type of scrutiny at Cincinnati - especially if tOSU only gets a slap on the wrist. The thinking just might be that the NCAA will be out for blood in their next investigation if they handle the Buckeyes with kid gloves (as many suspect will happen).

Still, somehow, I hope Huggins manages to survive. He's good for the game. The BE lost some great coaching characters from the 80s (Louie, Big John, and Rollie) and never really replaced them.

Cheers,
Neil

O$U gets a slap on the wrist for things that should get their heads chopped off. I can assure you that if UC did the kind of things and i mean things as in plural that O$U did/does/will do.....their would be a death pentalty.

Either way, I'd take Mayo and his amazing friends in a heartbeat.


The school needs to get DUI Cox and Nancy "ONce a Buckeye Always a Buckeye" Zimpher the heck out of here before she drives Huggs off and institues her min. ACT score of 25 that will KILL UC athletics as we know it.

PS: She really made that comment the other day in the paper...Once a Buckeye...Always a Buckeye...yea, she's Klass with a Capitol K.