USC's top basketball recruit might change his college choice if the Trojans face severe sanctions by the NCAA over illegal extra benefits allegedly received by O.J. Mayo.
DeMar DeRozan, one of the nation's most highly sought high school players, signed with USC in November, but his father and older half-brother said Tuesday he might consider other schools if the Trojans sustain a quick and heavy penalty.
"This is a good wake-up call," Jermaine DeRozan, DeMar's half-brother, said. "I'm just hoping SC doesn't get put on probation [If it does], I would get . . . out of there."
Recruits who sign letters of intent are required to gain a release from that school to be eligible immediately without sitting out a season.
The NCAA and Pacific 10 Conference are investigating Mayo because of allegations that he received tens of thousands of dollars in cash and gifts from Rodney Guillory, a Los Angeles events promoter said to be acting as a representative of a sports agency.
Guillory reportedly received about $200,000 in cash plus a $50,000 sports utility vehicle from Bill Duffy Associates, funneling about $30,000 to Mayo, who recently announced BDA vice president Calvin Andrews would be his agent as a pro.
If the allegations are proved true, Mayo could be declared retroactively ineligible. And if the NCAA is convinced USC took part or knew about any violations, the athletic program could be punished by losing scholarships or being banned from postseason play.
"If they can't make the tournament next year, that's what we're going to college for," Jermaine DeRozan said. "If you do your one year, you at least have to shine and get to the tournament with the intentions of winning it or get to the Elite Eight."
Mayo and Bill Duffy Associates have denied any wrongdoing. USC says it is cooperating with the NCAA and that circumstances surrounding the player from Huntington, W.Va., were thoroughly examined before Mayo enrolled.
DeRozan's father, Frank, said DeMar woke him up Sunday after the accusations, made by former Mayo confidant and Guillory associate Louis Johnson, became public when broadcast on the ESPN show, "Outside the Lines."
"He brought it to my attention and said, 'Man, that's messed up,' " Frank DeRozan said.
Compton High Coach Tony Thomas said he recently had been contacted by assistant coaches from two of the Final Four teams -- which were UCLA, North Carolina, Kansas and Memphis -- inquiring about DeRozan's availability.
