NCAA won't comment on Mayo's Lakers tickets
USC BASKETBALL
The NCAA is aware of free Lakers tickets provided to USC freshman guard O.J. Mayo, but a spokesperson said today that the organization would not comment on current, pending or potential investigations.
USC sports information director Tim Tessalone said the school's compliance officials would not comment on potential NCAA violations or whether they were investigating the matter.
Mayo on Tuesday said he was given two complimentary tickets to attend Monday's Lakers-Denver Nuggets game at Staples Center by Nuggets All-Star forward Carmelo Anthony.
NCAA bylaw 16.11.2.2.3 states that student-athletes may not receive "free or reduced-cost admission to professional athletics contests from professional sports organizations, unless such services also are available to the student body in general."
It is not clear if the NCAA would consider Anthony an agent of the Nuggets or merely an individual who gave tickets to a friend. The tickets Mayo received were located behind courtside seats near mid-court and had a face value of $230 each.
A compliance director from a West Coast school said that Mayo's actions could constitute a secondary violation and that the NCAA could order Mayo to donate the value of the tickets to charity.
In 2000, Arizona forward Richard Jefferson was suspended for one game after receiving airfare and tickets to attend an NBA Finals game. Jefferson had to pay the estimated value of the gift -- $281 -- to a charity of his choice.
Mayo is the Trojans' leading scorer, averaging 19.7 points and 4.6 rebounds per game.
ben.bolch@latimes.com
