BONANZA FROM THE BUCKEYE STATE TROJANS ADD MAYO NATION'S TOP BASKETBALL RECRUIT, A GUARD OUT OF CINCINNATI, APPARENTLY IS HEADING FOR USC.

Byline: SCOTT WOLF Staff Writer

The stature of USC basketball could take a major leap forward this week, because guard O.J. Mayo, the nation's No. 1-ranked player, is expected to commit to the Trojans, according to sources.

Mayo told several USC players and recruits last week he would officially commit to the Trojans during this weekend's ABCD basketball camp in Teaneck, N.J.

And it could be a package deal, because Mayo, who lives in Cincinnati, wants to bring high school teammate, Bill Walker, the No. 2 player in the nation by Rivals.com, and center Aaron Pogue of Dayton, Ohio.

Mayo's commitment would shake up college basketball and give USC a national image in a sport usually overshadowed by football.

``He's probably second only to LeBron James in the last five or six years in terms of perimeter players coming out of high school,'' said ESPN analyst Fran Fraschilla, who previously coached at St. John's and New Mexico. ``Since seeing him as a sophomore two summers ago, I thought he was the guard version of (incoming Ohio State center) Greg Oden, who I think is the player of the last decade in high school.

``He's not the athlete LeBron James is, but he's in the LeBron James category.''

Mayo visited USC last week and played several pickup games in the North Gym.

``He's a good player. We played two games together and we won both,'' said center Mamadou Diarra of Stoneridge Prep in Simi Valley.

Diarra, who said he will also commit to USC this week, said Mayo told him he would attend USC.

Mayo's decision could surprise fans across the country. As recently as April, many assumed he would attend Kansas State, which is coached by former Cincinnati coach Bob Huggins.

But several factors influenced his apparent decision to favor USC:

Mayo wants to play in a big media market like Los Angeles to set up endorsement opportunities for his potential NBA career. He was impressed with USC winning three of the past four Heisman trophies and the high-profile assumed by football players Matt Leinart and Reggie Bush.

He also wants to establish a basketball program as a national power.

Several sources said Mayo would like to create a scenario similar to when center Patrick Ewing committed to Georgetown and took the Hoyas to the national title game his freshman year.

He wants to work with a former NBA coach, and USC's Tim Floyd previously coached the Chicago Bulls and New Orleans Hornets.

``If he spends a year in college, he might as well pick a great city to live in, with a former NBA coach, in a very good league and a brand new arena,'' Fraschilla said. ``USC has all the components.

``On the surface, the average fan says `Why USC?' But when you analyze is, it's a good fit.''

Fraschilla said he believes Oden's decision to attend Ohio State will give the Buckeyes prestige with recruits and that a Mayo-to-USC announcement could have a similar effect.

``It's a good marriage of convenience,'' he said. ``It elevates their program. O.J. Mayo could make the Trojans the chic choice even if he's only there a year.''

And make no mistake, Mayo will only spend one year in college. No one at USC believes otherwise.

Fraschilla said another reason for Mayo attending USC would be to move closer to one of his advisors, Sonny Vaccaro, who works for Reebok and lives in Calabasas.

``He stays close geographically to a guy who influences his career, Sonny Vaccaro,'' Fraschilla said.

Mayo began playing varsity basketball as a seventh-grader at Rose Hill Christian in Ashland, Ky. -- the state does not have an age limit for playing on a high-school team. He averaged 23.1 points as a seventh grader and 20.5 as an eighth grader.

Following his eighth-grade season, Mayo transferred to North College Hill in Cincinnati. He averaged between 27 and 30 points per game his first three seasons and was named Ohio's Mr. Basketball his sophomore and junior years.

There has also been some controversy. Mayo has been involved in two altercations and was suspended last spring following an incident with a female student.

[e-mail]

[phone]

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) North College Hill High of Cincinnati's O.J. Mayo celebrates winning their second Ohio state title. Fans in Los Angeles might be seeing Mayo holding up those fingers at USC for the 2006-07 season. The much-ballyhooed recruit is expected to commit to the Trojans this weekend.

(2) O.J. Mayo averaged between 27 and 30 points in his first three seasons at North College Hill High in Cincinnati.

Jeff Swinger/The Cincinnati Enquirer