From ESPN.com (no direct link):
USC guard O.J. Mayo was ranked No. 1 on our Big Board in July. Some of that had to do with hype, but most of it had to do with Mayo’s game. He already had the body and athleticism of an NBA player. He was an excellent scorer and scouts said they thought he would be a full-time point guard in the pros.
Mayo has proved he has the ability to score at USC. But the point guard thing hasn’t materialized. He’s looked fairly one-dimensional this season — his assist and rebound totals are underwhelming. Some of that isn’t Mayo’s fault as he’s asked to play off the ball and carry the team on offense. But scouts looking for something more than a shoot-first 2-guard have been disappointed. Some are calling Mayo the next Jerry Stackhouse — a guy who never met a shot he didn’t like or a defensive set he did like.
Scouts are being too critical in my mind. The backlash against Mayo has been too severe given his numbers. As a freshman, he’s averaging more than 20 points per game in one of the toughest conferences in college basketball and shooting a respectable percentage from the field. His assist-to-turnover ratio isn’t pretty & but he’s been asked to do a lot.
The fact that he played Derrick Rose to a draw and outplayed Arizona’s Jerryd Bayless stands out. But the truth is that if scouts are skeptical, then he’s got to prove himself during workouts.
Right now he’s ranked No. 9 on our draft board. But I think teams like the Knicks and Clippers will take a long look at him earlier in the draft.
No. 9 on ESPN's draft board? The last time I let ESPN influence my evaluation of a player I picked Chris Lofton over Michael Beasley (my gut instinct) as an All-American. Yes, CHRIS FRICKIN LOFTON! I should print out every single post on this blog, spit on each page, and burn it up in flames for that decision. To my defense, if I remember correctly, I wrote that I hated his game and was reluctant to pick him, but that ESPN made a good point about Lofton thriving in a well-balanced UT squad.
To boast a bit and help my bruised ego, before the season began, I predicted O.J. would average 21 pts, 5 boards, and 3 assists per game this season; his current stats are 21.6 pts, 4.4 boards, and 3.0 assists per game. Thank you, thank you. But going back to my original point, I am going to go with my gut instincts this time and predict that O.J. will be a top 6 pick. I don't even need to know the draft order, when NBA execs see how well O.J.'s game will translate to the NBA, his year of maturity on/off court, and his improved defensive skills, his stock will rise. The truth is, O.J.'s game from 17 feet and in is more polished than Eric Gordon's. To EJ's (Gordon) defense, he does finish better at the rim, but that doesn't have nearly the same weight. As for Bayless, I don't think he has the same upside as Mayo or Gordon (Rose is apples to oranges) and it will show come work-out time. Whether I'm right or wrong, I will revisit this post come draft time. I just want redemption for CHRIS FRICKIN LOFTON! We shall see...
