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OJ Mayo and Oak Hill Academy

firebird

By firebird
in KY Boys Basketball (High School)

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firebird

firebird

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Seems that as recently as 2 weeks ago that OJ Mayo was still trying to enroll at Oak Hill Academy.

 

Exerpts from Sunday's column from Jerry Tipton of the Lexington Herald Leader:

 

 

Oak Hill Coach Steve Smith said that Mayo came to Mouth of Wilson , Va in April to talk about attending the school. Smith decided not to accept Mayo, who had been suspended more than once by North College Hill. "I just didn't think it was the best thing of either one of us," Smith said.

 

Mayo apparently found it difficult to take no for an answer. Late last month while participating in a camp at Santa Barbara, Calif.,he asked an Oak Hill official to again explain why the school would not accept him.

 

When asked to appraise Mayo as a prospect, Steve Smith did not sound overwhelmed. "He's not Lebron James," the Oak Hill coach said. "He's not Carmelo Anthony. He's not Kevin Durrant. He's a 6-4 guard. If he's making his shots, he's very good. He's a big time high school guard. I dont know how well he'll adjust down the line."

 

 

Interesting quotes coming from the head of a program that has undeniably had the finest high school talent (and egos) in the country year in and year out since taking over the reins at Mouth of Wilson.

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WVA Boy

WVA Boy

Posted
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Seems that as recently as 2 weeks ago that OJ Mayo was still trying to enroll at Oak Hill Academy.

 

Exerpts from Sunday's column from Jerry Tipton of the Lexington Herald Leader:

 

 

Oak Hill Coach Steve Smith said that Mayo came to Mouth of Wilson , Va in April to talk about attending the school. Smith decided not to accept Mayo, who had been suspended more than once by North College Hill. "I just didn't think it was the best thing of either one of us," Smith said.

 

Mayo apparently found it difficult to take no for an answer. Late last month while participating in a camp at Santa Barbara, Calif.,he asked an Oak Hill official to again explain why the school would not accept him.

 

When asked to appraise Mayo as a prospect, Steve Smith did not sound overwhelmed. "He's not Lebron James," the Oak Hill coach said. "He's not Carmelo Anthony. He's not Kevin Durrant. He's a 6-4 guard. If he's making his shots, he's very good. He's a big time high school guard. I dont know how well he'll adjust down the line."

 

 

Interesting quotes coming from the head of a program that has undeniably had the finest high school talent (and egos) in the country year in and year out since taking over the reins at Mouth of Wilson.

 

That some pretty resounding words from a fairly objective coach!!:eek:

Sandman

Sandman

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Smith has seen most of the better high school players in the country during the past 25 years or so, so I'll trust that statement. I agree as well, anyone who thinks Mayo is going to come into the NBA two years from now and make the kind of impact Anthony, James, Bryant, etc. did is crazy.

 

As for Smith rejecting Mayo, I applaud that. It's about time somebody told the kid "no" and actually meant it. Too bad it didn't happen sooner, this thread wouldn't have to exsist. Mayo is extremely good, but he's not worth the circus that comes with him.

TubbyCAT

TubbyCAT

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The bad thing is, the circus was brought to town by the ones who are supposed to be leading and mentoring this kid. I believe it is fairly obvious that this kid needs some better direction in his life. He would be better off playing college for a couple of seasons to grow as a man and a player. He needs a good-strong college coach to help him.

firebird

firebird

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The bad thing is, the circus was brought to town by the ones who are supposed to be leading and mentoring this kid. I believe it is fairly obvious that this kid needs some better direction in his life. He would be better off playing college for a couple of seasons to grow as a man and a player. He needs a good-strong college coach to help him.

 

 

Could you see OJ going to Texas Tech?

scooterbob

scooterbob

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I'm going to surprise you, firebird. The OJ Mayo that many of us knew well at Rose Hill could go to Texas Tech and thrive under the coaching of Bobby Knight. I have no doubt that he has that same focus and drive to succeed. He would realize that Coach Knight would help him considerably in reaching his goals. Take away all the excess personage and send him and him alone to Texas Tech and he would be fine and Coach Knight would be pleased.

scooterbob

scooterbob

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Royalblue, I think the combination of Knight and Mayo would produce considerable dividends for all concerned. He would be much better off there than at Kansas State (still a possibility) or UK (no chance and there never was a chance). Bob Knight, with all his human flaws, is still the type of coach who could do much to help Mayo.

firebird

firebird

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I'm going to surprise you, firebird. The OJ Mayo that many of us knew well at Rose Hill could go to Texas Tech and thrive under the coaching of Bobby Knight. I have no doubt that he has that same focus and drive to succeed. He would realize that Coach Knight would help him considerably in reaching his goals. Take away all the excess personage and send him and him alone to Texas Tech and he would be fine and Coach Knight would be pleased.

From the perception that I remember from OJ in grade school and middle school you would not surprise me at all scooterbob. That is exactly the type of kid that he appeared to be to me. Hopefully deep down that is still the same OJ.

 

The one thing that I could say as a parent in reference to Bob Knight is that there would not be a coach anywhere that I would want supervising my kid away from home. He might be tough and brutal appearing , but you could almost bet the farm that they would be well behaved young men while under his tutorage.

ladiesbballcoach

ladiesbballcoach

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Could you really trust a coach who believes in discipline yet thinks he is above every rule that was ever put in front of him?

Not sure I follow you here. What rules has Coach Knight broke?

 

I don't remember any recruiting violations or rumors of violations, yet IU's new coach is already has a stigma before every coaching a game for them.

HHSDad

HHSDad

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Not sure I follow you here. What rules has Coach Knight broke?

 

I don't remember any recruiting violations or rumors of violations, yet IU's new coach is already has a stigma before every coaching a game for them.

I don't think we're talking NCAA rules. Just normal human being part of society rules.

YAKOFNORWEGIA

YAKOFNORWEGIA

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Kids change. Not saying that OJ has. I coached a kid in baseball at the age of 14. He had just moved to the area in which I lived. He was the best player in the league, he could do anything he wanted and did anything I asked from playing centerfield to catching. Never a complaint was uttered. This young man in high school was 6'4'' approx 220 and returned kicks. He could have played football at the D1 level, he had scouts asking for his high school baseball schedule to come and watch, at minimum he could have had a free education. He kept being told how great he was and never made it past high school. If you hear things enough you will start to believe them. I hope that OJ is the same OJ that you remember and has not become a product of his environment.

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