Motivation: It’s There for the Agents and Collegiate Athletes

Part of growing up is learning to make responsible decisions, even in the face of adversity and temptations. 

O.J. Mayo came to USC as a prized recruit. He was destined to join the ranks of "one-and-done" NCAA basketball players who attend college only because he could not be drafted out of high school.

Still, he deserves his share of the blame if he in fact took money and other possessions from BDA Sports.  The temptation is to immediately indict OJ Mayo and dismiss his denial as an effort to "save face."

But Mayo's situation brings to light the motivation both athletes and agents have in the exchange of gifts and the inability for the NCAA to stop such activity. 

For one, the NCAA needs to start investigating any time an athlete is accused of receiving benefits from any source. Universities are unlikely to crack down unless the violation is so blatant they risk NCAA sanctions for an athlete's actions. 

The competition for elite athletes is tough. While the universities should take the moral stance of cracking down, realistically that won't happen because the football or basketball program will suffer a lack of talent. 

Additionally, the universities needs to do a better job of monitoring and advising these athletes on the decisions they make and they people with whom they associate to help limit the athlete-agent interaction.

Ultimately, though, these ideas are more like impractical pleas than enforceable solutions. Athletes like Mayo have little motivation to deny the money, flashy cars, or other items agents may toss their way. 

These types of shenanigans have been taking place for a while. Boosters reportedly provide benefits to collegiate athletes. Now the agents are getting involved.

Should agents’ tactics be a shock either, especially in NCAA basketball where almost all of the prominent athletes (Greg Oden, Kevin Durant, Derrick Rose, Michael Beasley, O.J. Mayo, etc.) are "one-and-done" players?

No, because agents can target these kids in high school. They know many of them will only play a year of college. The likelihood that they either party is caught is slim. 

By providing these kids with gifts in high school and during their freshmen year, agents can gain a kid's loyalty and pledge to be their clients. The athletes gain because it allows them to enhance their status and have some real spending money. They also get a tricked out ride to show off to the ladies, who already admire their status. 

The agencies benefit from this practice in the long run because they can gain a ton of money (more than they initially give away in cash and cars) if their client pans out and becomes a superstar or even a solid pro, just by representing them.

Both parties involved in these transactions have much to gain. Right now, both have little to lose because the NCAA can't police this activity.

Sure, the NCAA can threaten universities with sanctions, or to take an athlete’s name out of the record book. But they cannot really force an athlete to hand over his car or money with legal repercussions. 

This is not to say that Congress needs to get involved, it’s just that the NCAA has to take a long hard look at its policies and how it carries itself. These players are going to continue to accept these gifts and agencies will continue to dole them out as long as they both have something to gain and little to lose.

OJ Mayo is responsible for his actions, but the NCAA is in no position hold him accountable. Thus, these actions will continue until some system is devised to hold these agents and the athletes at fault and make them subject to practical punishment.