Can’t really call this a We-Told-You-So moment, because even though the Ronald Guillory-OJ Mayo connection was highly visible in March of 2007, we actually thought the NCAA would catch wind of it, and Mayo wouldn’t play at USC. But dammit if we weren’t close! This weekend, ESPN’s Outside the Lines nailed the story (or had it handed to them): OJ Mayo “received thousands of dollars in cash, clothes and other benefits” during high school and his one season at USC.

The man behind it all: Ronald “Runner” Guillory, who superagent Bill Duffy allegedly paid to make sure that Mayo eventually signed with Bill Duffy Associates Sports Management. According Louis Johnson, a former journalist – who was jailed for nine days on a cocaine arrest – Guillory plied Mayo with just about everything you can imagine in high school and USC (that flash you saw out of the corner of your eye was Tim Floyd looking for the nearest exit). USC defenders will try to smear Johnson, and that’s fine – but good luck trying to ignore the dozens of receipts he saved. Guillory’s going to have to crawl back under the rock he came out from, and Duffy … he’ll probably walk away unscathed, even though he shouldn’t.

Soo … when we can expect the real story behind Michael Beasley and Kansas State and Frank Martin?

EARLIER: Mayo Prediction: He Won’t End Up at USC. Not When the NCAA Looks Into This Guillory Guy
Ex-Mayo confidant says he gave USC star gifts including TV, cash (ESPN)