O.J. Mayo scored 20 points and added 8 rebounds to help No. 24 Southern California to a 70-57 victory over UC Riverside on Saturday.

Here’s what Chad Ford of ESPN wrote about O.J. Mayo’s draft status:

Mayo is not, as some in the media have suggested, dropping like a rock on NBA draft boards. All the people I’ve spoken with are still high on him. He may not be the No. 1 pick in the draft anymore, but he’s not slipping out of the top 10, either.

O.J. Mayo scored 18 points, dished out six assists, and grabbed four rebounds as 25th-ranked Southern California (8-3) beat Cal Poly, 78-55, at the Galen Center. USC plays UC Riverside on December 29th.

Playing for the first time in almost two weeks, the 25th-ranked Trojans routed Delaware State in an 83-54 victory Monday night.

O.J. Mayo faced double-teams and a box-and-1 for the majority of the game and ended with 12 points (5 for 6 shooting), 3 rebounds, and 4 assists.

The LA Times had an article last week on how scouts are seeing O.J. Mayo’s future in the NBA.

Is Mayo a lottery pick? Two scouts came away with different opinions:

I don’t think that’s a slam dunk, but he’s in that range.
I’d be shocked if he went any lower than seventh.

The next LeBron?

I think he’s a little overrated… the word was out that this guy is the next LeBron James. I do not think he is the next coming of LeBron James in any way.

Only time will tell if Mayo can prove the doubters wrong.

The game was billed as the battle of two of the top star freshmen, Derrick Rose of Memphis and OJ Mayo of Southern California. Neither one lived up to the hype but in the end, it was the Rose’s team that got the 62-58 victory in overtime.

Mayo ended with 16 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists but shot 6-for-20 from the field, including missing 7 straight shots at one point. Rose finished with 9 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 assists but had 5 turnovers.

“I’m just trying to get better as a player,” Mayo said. “I’m not perfect, but I strive to be perfect. Nobody plays perfect but I just try to get better.”

O.J. Mayo led the Trojans with 19 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 assists but USC was not able to upset #4 ranked Kansas as the Jayhawks pulled it out 59-55, at the Galen Center in Los Angeles. Mayo had an off night, shooting just 6-of-21 from the floor while adding 5 turnovers.

It won’t get any easier as the Trojans now go to New York and play #3 ranked Memphis on Tuesday, featuring another super freshman, Derrick Rose.