The Miami Herald reported that NCAA president Myles Brand promised to investigate former Southern California basketball player O.J. Mayo, who apparently received thousands of dollars from a sports agency while he played for USC.

NCAA rules prohibit giving college athletes money or other gifts. Colleges as well as the NCAA have a responsibility to shield their athletes from sports agents, boosters and other outsiders.

But Mayo received about $30,000 and other benefits from a sport’s agent while in high school and during his one season at USC.

But who can totally fault Mayo for not playing by the rules?

The Miami Herald article reported that NCAA president Myles Brand and NBA commissioner David Stern admit that college basketball needs to improve. They said that there is not a strong recruiting process for colleges which means high school basketball players start looking for other options.

But there is still no say on whether the NBA will raise its age limit when the current collective bargaining agreement expires in 2011. Right now the league’s minimum age is 19. Mayo turned 20 in November and joined the growing number of players who play one season in college and bolt for the pros. Memphis star Derrick Rose and Kansas State’s Michael Beasley also declared for the NBA draft after their freshmen year.

According to the Miami Herald: “Brand would like to see the NBA require players to stay in school for “two, three or four years,” but says he’s powerless to sway any decision.

“The NCAA has no ability to influence, in any way, the age rule,” he said. “So any age limitation rules, the 19-year-olds who are so-called “one and done,” are the result of bargaining negotiation between the NBA and the players’ association.

The NCAA was not involved in any way in that bargaining in setting up the rule. Only the NBA management and the players association set those rules.”"

But Brand can still enforce NCAA rules and will punish USC or any other school violating them.