Dave Weaver / AP

The spotlight is nothing new for O.J Mayo. He has been in the news since grade school, and his transfer to a Cincinnati high school became a huge media story.

He appeared at the ABCD Camp before his ninth-grade year. His transfer to a Cincinnati high school was a huge story in the local media. It created a ridiculous stir on the Internet when he played one tournament for a Nike-sponsored team after years of playing with another sponsored by Reebok. He was a junior in high school then.

I've interviewed Mayo several times since he was a high school freshman-to-be. He always has been exceedingly courteous, thoughtful and insightful. No one is going to get to the soul of a person by interviewing him for 10 minutes, but I've gotten the sense Mayo is trying hard to be a decent person against a mountain of obstacles. Given how early the assault began, expecting Mayo to recognize he was being used is unrealistic.

This is about viewing young athletes as commodities

Because the best basketball players generally are identifiable by the time they are in their mid-teens, it's easier for agents and their representatives to gain influence.

The best offensive tackle might not be obvious until he's a junior in college. To sign him, an agent almost invariably will have to preserve some relationship with the college where he plays, so abusing the system is counterproductive. With basketball, the agents often get there first.

Certainly there are some colleges just as likely to exploit teenaged ballers. But most offer something of lasting value in return: an education if it's wanted, exposure that helps build the player's brand, or, at the very least, high-level basketball training that can lead to greater competitive success (and the wealth that results). An agent might hand over some money or the keys to a new ride. The truth, though, is eventually that agent will find a way to be repaid.

More news

Mark J. Terrill / AP

Gordon reacted to article right way

CBT: Drew Gordon is taking a different approach to SI's UCLA article than Reeves Nelson, one much more likely to result in hearing his name called come NBA draft day.

Former Indiana coach Watson dies at 88

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) - Former Indiana coach and player Lou Watson has died at the age of 88.

Headlines

• Label

CBT: Cincinnati, Xavier to continue rivalry

CBT: 4 Indiana schools extend Crossroads Classic

CBT: Stony Brook says it's staying put ... for now

CBT: Will Michigan re-hang the Fab Five banners?

CBT: Is the new early entry deadline working?

CBT: Fine's wife to sue ESPN for libel

CBT: Coach K gets a lot of bucks and bennies

CBT: ACC will include all 14 teams in tournament