Though it’s not necessarily groundbreaking news, Ben Bloch of the Los Angeles Times is reporting that O.J. Mayo intends to return for a second year with USC unless he is guaranteed to be a lottery pick in the NBA draft, which just about everyone thinks he will be. As he’s stated previously, coach Tim Floyd will encourage Mayo to leave after one year if he’s projected as a high first round pick because allowing him to risk a career-threatening injury in his second year in college would be “irresponsible.”

Sophomore PF Taj Gibson, as a result of an aggressive nutrition and weightlifting regimen, has added 14 pounds of muscle to his slender frame, going from 210 pounds to 224, which will allow him, as he stated, to “take care of the ball more” and “bang longer.”

Sophomore PG Daniel Hackett has still not heard if he’s been selected by the Italian national team to play in the FIBA Euro Championships to be held Sept 3-16 in Spain. If selected, Floyd will allow Hackett to make the decision whether or not to participate.

Mayo plans to return next year, unless… (LA Times)