LOS ANGELES — USC freshman guard O.J. Mayo said he is keeping his attention on the upcoming NBA draft and denied an ESPN report in which a former associate of his claims the basketball star received thousands of dollars in cash and other gifts from an event promoter, which would be a violation of NCAA rules.

"I don't know anything about it. It caught me by surprise," Mayo told ESPN late last night while visiting his mother in West Virginia. "I've got to get to L.A. to see what's going on. I'm just focusing on the draft."

Earlier on ESPN's "Outside the Lines," Louis Johnson claimed that Rodney Guillory, a Los Angeles-based event promoter, gave Mayo about $30,000 and other benefits while he attended high school and during his sole season at USC. Mayo has decided to forgo his sophomore year and enter the NBA draft.

Guillory received monthly payments from Northern California sports agency Bill Duffy Associates, the network reported.

Mayo signed with the same agency last month shortly after declaring that he would enter the June 26 draft, where he is expected to be a lottery pick.

A phone message left Sunday at a home number listed in Guillory's name was not returned.

Johnson said Bill Duffy Associates provided Guillory with about $200,000 before Mayo arrived at USC. Guillory used most of the money to support his own lifestyle but also gave a portion of it to Mayo, Johnson told ESPN. Mayo then entered into a verbal agreement that allowed the agency to represent him when he turned pro, Johnson added.

Giving college athletes money or other gifts violates NCAA policy.

Bill Duffy Associates said in a statement that none of its employees "engaged in any conduct that could have remotely jeopardized O.J. Mayo's eligibility."

Duffy told ESPN by phone that he "didn't give Rodney (Guillory) any money."

And he added, "We didn't give O.J. one dime."

Mayo got into some minor trouble with the NCAA earlier this year after he accepted free tickets to a Los Angeles Lakers game from one of Duffy's clients, Denver Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony. Mayo didn't miss any USC games but had to contribute $460 — the total value of the two tickets — to a charitable organization.

USC said in a statement that NCAA and Pac-10 officials have looked into Mayo's status "before and during his enrollment at USC, and did not identify any amateurism violations."

Johnson said he doesn't believe USC officials knew Guillory provided cash and other benefits to Mayo. However, he claims some USC coaches had regular contact with Guillory.

Johnson, who claims he didn't get paid, also gave ESPN receipts and invoices for many of the purchases.