Is anybody really surprised there are rumors of an agent giving money to USC basketball star OJ Mayo?

  Mayo is hardly the only star freshman to face these allegations over the years.  Basketball is hardly the only sport to face this scrutiny.  Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush has been accused of the same offense at the same school.

  The NBA likes to turn its head and claim it has nothing to do with the issue.  The NBA believes the payments and rules violations occurred before these players entered pro basketball.  But it is the system that the NBA has created that has opened the door for these under-the-table payments.

   Players can enter the NBA draft at 19.  American players must be at least one year removed from their high school graduation.  Essentially players that believe they are NBA ready, play college hoops for one season and then enter the NBA draft.  These players are on the hook for one semester of classes.  Most sign up and then skip second semester classes.  By the time grades come out, the basketball season is over and the players are gone.

   College teams that lose a star freshman are sent scrambling.  The star freshman is hardly NBA-ready.  NBA teams have to wait for the star freshman to learn the NBA game.  Bottom line, it is hardly a winning situation for anybody.  Yes, a handful of players begin making and earning money a few years early.  But for many, it is one contract and done.  From there, there is no basketball future and no college degree.

   Some point to baseball and hockey.  They allow players to sign out of high school.  But those sports have true minor leagues where players can develop.  The NBA brags about its Developmental League.  But high draft picks rarely play there.  No secret, the NBA uses college basketball as its minor league. 

  The NBA and NCAA can work together.  The NBA and the players association can agree that high school seniors can enter the draft only if drafted in the top 15 picks.  The NBA must handle the expenses for the high school players.  And those players cannot hire agents.

  Any high school senior not drafted among the top 15, cannot become eligible for the NBA draft until after a third year of college.  This forces players to become college students.  This will allow players to develop.  The college and NBA games improve.  And there are fewer mistakes in the draft.

  Also, the NBA needs to decertify any agent that gives money to a player before the NBA draft.  Any player that is caught taking money cannot be drafted or must be suspended.

  Now, only schools and coaches have to deal with the fallout from these rules violations.  Players and agents must be held accountable. 

  How about this...if OJ Mayo is caught taking money from an agent...he will lose his scholarship and he will not be allowed to enter the draft until he earns his degree.

  Who loses?

   Al Keck