In the case of Southern California coach Tim Floyd's recruitment of O.J. Mayo, it might come down to a case of he said vs. he said.
Louis Johnson, a former associate of Mayo's, has told federal and NCAA investigators that Floyd gave $1,000 in cash to a man who helped steer the star player to the Trojans, according to Johnson's attorney, Anthony V. Salerno.
Floyd has yet to respond to the allegations, which first appeared in a Yahoo! Sports report.
"That's really the whole thing: who do you believe?" Salerno told The Associated Press on Wednesday. "Tim Floyd had a motive to pay O.J. Mayo to get there. Louis really doesn't have any motives. He doesn't have an ax to grind against Tim Floyd."
Salerno said he thinks investigators believe Johnson's story. Johnson has told them that he accompanied Mayo's handler, Rodney Guillory, to a meeting with Floyd at a Beverly Hills cafe on Valentine's Day 2007, and that Guillory emerged with an envelope stuffed with $100 bills.
"I don't think they've expressed any indication that they don't believe him," Salerno said, referring to NCAA investigators. "And for what it's worth, I think the U.S. government, through the Justice Department, believes him too."
Johnson's account comes as USC deals with allegations that 2005 Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush received improper benefits for a sports marketing agent while at USC.
If the NCAA can prove Floyd paid Guillory for delivering Mayo to USC, that would be considered a major violation. The Trojans could be forced to forfeit victories, and they may face recruiting restrictions and lose scholarships.
USC athletic department spokesman Tim Tessalone said the school could not comment on an ongoing NCAA investigation. Pac-10 spokesman David Hirsch said the conference would have no comment.
The NCAA does not comment about ongoing investigations.
As the latest report on Mayo's recruitment shook USC, there was a sense of relief at the University of Arizona, which had courted Floyd this spring.
Arizona athletic director Jim Livengood, speaking from Tucson, denied he had offered Floyd the job. But he said he had asked Floyd about the reports surrounding his relationship with Mayo.
"I asked him the question," Livengood said. "He said there's nothing to that. So end of question. We didn't go any farther. We didn't need to go any farther."
Mayo played one season at USC, leading the Trojans to a 21-12 record and an NCAA tournament berth. He was drafted by the Memphis Grizzlies with the third overall pick. He was runner-up for the NBA's Rookie of the Year award to Chicago's Derrick Rose.
The 55-year-old Floyd has led the Trojans to the NCAA tournament three consecutive seasons, a first in the program's history, and this season he coached them to the Pac-10 tournament title.
Floyd has an 85-50 record in four seasons at USC and has three years left on his contract, with a base pay reported to be about $850,000.
Salerno said he wonders why Floyd has not disputed Johnson's account if it's false.
"Tim Floyd easily could have said, 'That's baloney, it's slanderous and not true, I never did that,"' Salerno said. "In my opinion, it's kind of damning, his being silent. It's not like this is a criminal case for him. It's not like this is a subtle allegation. It's black and white.
"Why doesn't he just come out and deny it?" Salerno said.
Johnson had described Guillory as a "runner" who steered Mayo to the Bill Duffy Associates (BDA) sports agency. Johnson said Guillory received between $200,000 and $250,000 from BDA Sports for his efforts, which resulted in Mayo initially signing with BDA when he left USC after one season for the NBA in April 2008.
Mayo had switched to agent Leon Rose before he was drafted.
Salerno said Johnson has only told authorities about one payment, but Salerno added that "it would be naive to think there weren't more payments."
Salerno told Yahoo! Sports that Johnson's account to federal authorities carried the threat of potential prosecution if Johnson was found to be lying.
Salerno declined to make Johnson available for an interview. Salerno said Johnson's allegations have put his client "in a tough spot because he's trying to do the right thing, being a good citizen."
"But when you do that, you get labeled a snitch, so it's difficult for him," Salerno said. "He's actually concerned for his safety in some respects. There are some unsavory characters involved here."