USC Athletics Not Entirely Above Board

Are you sitting down for this? It seems that USC—the Trojans!—might not be the most outstanding citizens in the world of college recruiting. Set your faces to stunned.

Yahoo Sports (again) is reporting that basketball coach Tim Floyd gave $1,000 cash to Rodney Guillory, a member of O.J. Mayo's inner circle, who presumably used that cash to "lavish improver benefits" on Mayo. Gross. The payments took place in 2007, after Mayo had committed to play for USC, but before he "enrolled" in school—presumably as a thank you to guillory for helping deliver Mayo to the programl.

Guillory previously was investigated in 2000 for his involvement with former USC basketball player Jeff Trepagnier and former Fresno State basketball player Tito Maddox. USC briefly suspended Trepagnier for his involvement with Guillory in 2000, but Trepagnier later was cleared of any charges. However, the NCAA found that Guillory had broken NCAA rules by purchasing airfare for Maddox. Later, Maddox painted Guillory as the go-between who helped arrange delivery of cars and cash payments – some payments coming directly from Guillory, according to published reports.

Multiple sources told Yahoo! Sports that Guillory is under investigation by the FBI, IRS and U.S. Attorney's Office for his alleged dealings with Mayo.

Trepagnier does it again. Southern Cal's football and basketball programs are already under NCAA investigation for that whole "Reggie Bush was a professional athlete" thing, so if this true ... well, who knows what will happen? The NCAA misplaced its own banhammer years ago. But Floyd already raised eyebrows earlier this year when he rescinded the scholarship offer to Renardo Sidney, a kid who moved from Mississippi to L.A. in order to be closer to the limelight. USC and UCLA both backed off him when people started wondering how a poor kid from Mississippi ended up living in million-dollar suburban homes. What admirable restraint.

Anyway, Sidney eventually signed with Mississippi State, Mayo is toiling in the NBA, Reggie Bush became a celebrity vampire and Tim Floyd probably wishes he'd taken that Arizona job right about now.

Source: Floyd gave cash to Mayo handler [Yahoo] O.J. Mayo: The Gift That Keeps On Giving [Rush The Court]