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P.J. Hairston chose the D-League when he was having issues with the NCAA and North Carolina. Former Texas A&M Aggie Jamal Jones decided to join the D-League this year after leaving A&M, because of differences with the program. It's clear that the NBA Development League is becoming a serious option for talented players who are running into issues at the collegiate level. The next name to add to this list of players is Todd Mayo, brother of Milwaukee Bucks guard O.J. Mayo.
Todd Mayo -- a 6'3" 195 pound guard -- was the leading scorer for the Marquette Golden Eagles last season, averaging 11.3 points per game. Mayo would have been a senior at Marquette this season, but decided to leave the program after running into multiple problems in his years with the Golden Eagles.
Former Marquette G Todd Mayo, O.J.'s younger brother, will enter the D-League Draft, his agent @dhazan20 tells @SNYtv
— Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) August 25, 2014
The talented guard was running into problem the first time he stepped on the Milwaukee campus of Marquette. Mayo was sent home to West Virginia by head coach Buzz Williams during his first summer on campus, to understand the value of his scholarship. Then, four days before Marquette's season opener during his sophomore season, Mayo was declared academically ineligible by the university.
The 6'3" guard would miss Marquette's first 10 games of that season from the academic suspension, but declared that he would be better after his return (via Painttouches.com), "It definitely was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do in my life, period," he told the media following the game. "If I didn’t do what I needed to do then I was never going to step on the court in (Division I) basketball again."
As a surprise to no one, Mayo's comments were received well at the time, but the suspensions wouldn't stop there. O.J. Mayo's little brother missed a practice in December of the following season and was suspended one-game by the program. A one-game suspension doesn't seem like much, but consider that it was Mayo's fourth suspension in three years.
Say what you will about O.J. Mayo, but it's clear that the Mayo family comes from a talented basketball background. However, it's unfortunate that both brothers -- O.J. and Todd -- have ran into a series of problems at their respective collegiate programs.
Even though Todd Mayo has decided to leave Marquette, it's important to bring up that he has left the program in good academic standing. His academic issues with Marquette probably factored into the decision, but Mayo is already 24-years-old and wants to get his professional career started. Joining the D-League draft this season will give Mayo a season of playing professionally before entering the 2015 NBA Draft.
Todd Mayo is a name to watch out for in the NBA D-League this upcoming season. His last name brings expectations and pressure, but Mayo has overcame enough during his life to deal with the pressure. He has a lot more to overcome if he wants to make it to the NBA and the NBA's Development League will be the place that Mayo either proves he deserves an NBA deal or doesn't.