Friday, March 24, 2006
The junior did not make the trip with the team to Columbus.
COLUMBUS (AP) -- O.J. Mayo, one of the most acclaimed high school players in the nation, was banned from Cincinnati North College Hill's state semifinal game Thursday by the school's principal.
Principal Kelly Hughes would not say why he was not playing.
"I would not term it a suspension," she said. "He will not be traveling with the team and will not be playing in the game tonight. The decision was made by me."
In a statement she released after North College Hill (25-1) defeated Archbold 49-34 on Thursday night, Hughes said, "A determination will be made [today] as to whether O.J. Mayo will play in the state final game."
Coach Jamie Mahaffey said he was uncertain whether Mayo would be permitted to play in Saturday's championship game.
"I can't say whether I expect him or not," he said. "It will be a surprise."
Two-time Mr. Basketball
Mayo, a 6-foot-5 junior, is Ohio's top high school basketball player. He won The Associated Press Mr. Basketball in Ohio award on Wednesday for the second straight year.
Mayo, who averaged 28.8 points a game this season, is the featured performer for the defending state champions and three-time defending AP poll champions.
He shares the spotlight on his team, ranked among the top five in the country by several publications, with 6-6 junior Bill Walker, also a first-team all-state selection.
Walker was brilliant in the state semifinal victory, scoring 23 points with 13 rebounds, three assists and two blocked shots. He brought a crowd of 14,119 to its feet several times with ferocious dunks.
"I knew I had to step up and do more for our team," Walker said.
Mayo was not with the team when it stepped on the court about an hour before the game Thursday evening. After a team picture was taken, the players warmed up in the near-empty arena.
Very hurt
Mahaffey said later that Mayo felt badly that he couldn't make the trip.
"He's very hurt by it and is sorry he's not here," Mahaffey said. "He loves the game of basketball."
This season hasn't been a slam dunk for Mayo and his team. Mayo has two stress fractures in his left foot that will require surgery when the season is over. He also has been battling a nagging chest cold that, even after several weeks, still leaves him coughing.
"This has been one of the most difficult seasons I've had," Mayo said earlier this week. "At the same time, we've gotten through it as a team and we've given ourselves another chance at winning the Division III state championship."
Huggins connection
Mayo and Walker have close ties with former University of Cincinnati coach Bob Huggins, who was hired Thursday as coach at Kansas State. Mayo said this week he and Walker may sign with whichever school hired Huggins.
Archbold (21-5) set a divisional record for fewest points in a semifinal and the Trojans (25-1) had more than enough firepower.
Gene Goering, a third-team all-Ohioan, and Josh Wyse each scored 12 points for the Blue Streaks, who shot just 23 percent from the field (10 of 43) including 4-of-22 on 3-pointers (18 percent).
Archbold came out strong at the outset -- perhaps because the Trojans were still feeling their way without their top player. The Blue Streaks led 7-2 after the game's first six minutes. Fans who didn't not have a rooting interest before the game started cheering for the big underdogs.