Anyone else surprised at OJ Mayo's ACT score?

[DCWildcat]

29. That's really, really good--according to the ACT site, that puts him in the top 5% of everyone who took the test.

[KapitalCat]

If he indeed got a 29, thats a great score. But I'm curious how the score got released, that information is protected by federal privacy acts, did OJ release the score?

[AugustaDan]

KapitalCat wrote: If he indeed got a 29, thats a great score. But I'm curious how the score got released, that information is protected by federal privacy acts, did OJ release the score?
He mentioned it when he announced for USC.

[tauzreborn]

I would like to know how much help and how long he got. I know athletes at my high school had counselors guide them through it and had unlimited time. Notto say he isnt a smart kid, buteverything I hear about himindicates otherwise.

All skepticism aside. Congrats to the smarty pants. That is an awesome accomplishment for someone with so much pressure and extra-curriculor activity.

[sojourner]

If he really did get a 29 there is not enough help in the world to get him a score like that if he was not pretty smart to begin with.

What is also interesting is that West coast schools usually prefer the SAT. Although I suspect they will take the ACT.

[DCWildcat]

sojourner wrote: If he really did get a 29 there is not enough help in the world to get him a score like that if he was not pretty smart to begin with.

What is also interesting is that West coast schools usually prefer the SAT. Although I suspect they will take the ACT.

Nah, I think they'd rather cut OJ Mayo instead :D

[Dr. H Lecter]

DCWildcat wrote: 29. That's really, really good--according to the ACT site, that puts him in the top 5% of everyone who took the test.

I think that was his SAT score.

[yitbos]

I will bet all the money i have that the NCAA will be investigating USC very soon.

[Doug Hardin]

Maybe this is totally legitimate and OJ is a smart kid. But I still feel kind of dumb knowing that OJ Mayo outscored me by a point . . . .

[tauzreborn]

Doug Hardin wrote: Maybe this is totally legitimate and OJ is a smart kid. But I still feel kind of dumb knowing that OJ Mayo outscored me by a point . . . .
My sentiments exactly....I'm flabergasted.

[MSU Cat]

Why does everybody already assume an athlete the caliber of Mayo is dumb or he's cheated to get a good score? It's not possible he could be that smart? I know people who taught the kid here in Ashland and they all (every single one of them) say he is a very bright kid. I think it's ludicrous to assume that since a kid is a good athlete or is college bound and set to make it big in the NBA, NFL, or any other sport that we assume they are getting some kind of "help" or that they are automatically stupid.

[Caveman Catfan]

Why would anyone be surprised that Mayo is a bright kid? Unless you have met the kid and spent any significant time with him, the odds that he is bright are as great as they are he is dumb.

[trublue4life]

If this is true then all I have to say is congratulations OJ Mayo. Regardless of what we fans think of him he's still a teenage kid with a whole lot to distract him. If he pulled a 29 on his ACT then good for him! That shows a lot more than a lot of people are willing to give him credit for.

[sojourner]

MSU Cat wrote: Why does everybody already assume an athlete the caliber of Mayo is dumb or he's cheated to get a good score? It's not possible he could be that smart? I know people who taught the kid here in Ashland and they all (every single one of them) say he is a very bright kid. I think it's ludicrous to assume that since a kid is a good athlete or is college bound and set to make it big in the NBA, NFL, or any other sport that we assume they are getting some kind of "help" or that they are automatically stupid.
Where did I say I didn't believe he got that score?

[MSU Cat]

sojourner wrote: MSU Cat wrote: Why does everybody already assume an athlete the caliber of Mayo is dumb or he's cheated to get a good score? It's not possible he could be that smart? I know people who taught the kid here in Ashland and they all (every single one of them) say he is a very bright kid. I think it's ludicrous to assume that since a kid is a good athlete or is college bound and set to make it big in the NBA, NFL, or any other sport that we assume they are getting some kind of "help" or that they are automatically stupid.
Where did I say I didn't believe he got that score?
You didn't. Some of the posts just indicate surprise.

[NashvegasCATFAN]

Doug Hardin wrote: Maybe this is totally legitimate and OJ is a smart kid. But I still feel kind of dumb knowing that OJ Mayo outscored me by a point . . . .HAHa yeah no doubt about it. Why does the best player in the nation go to USC? Reggie Bush anyone....

[Radiated]

From talking with sevferal people around here that have followed his career, they say that he is a smart kid.

[DCWildcat]

Caveman Catfan wrote: Why would anyone be surprised that Mayo is a bright kid? Unless you have met the kid and spent any significant time with him, the odds that he is bright are as great as they are he is dumb.
I definately disagree about "the odds." I played in five basketball games at NCH, a football game, a track meet, went to a sportmanship thing there, and got lost after watching OJ et al. play there one night. North College Hill is a run down, low-income, high-crime area, and places like that rarely aren't exactly academic powerhouses. I tutored in two similar areas in Cincinnati (Washington Park and Over the Rhine), and those areas were two of the poorest achieving in the entire state. Fantastic ACT scores are, to put it midly, not exact a common occurrence in those settings (yes, I know he's originally from Huntington, but no one moves to NCH, especially the area OJ lived in, from any kind of affluent background).

No, I'm not being racist, elitist, or think that all poor people are dumb. I'm just saying it's very, very rare for that kind of achievement to happen with that kind of background--all the more reason to applaud OJ on his accomplishment.

[Caveman Catfan]

DCWildcat wrote: Caveman Catfan wrote: Why would anyone be surprised that Mayo is a bright kid? Unless you have met the kid and spent any significant time with him, the odds that he is bright are as great as they are he is dumb.
I definately disagree about "the odds." I played in five basketball games at NCH, a football game, a track meet, went to a sportmanship thing there, and got lost after watching OJ et al. play there one night. North College Hill is a run down, low-income, high-crime area, and places like that rarely aren't exactly academic powerhouses. I tutored in two similar areas in Cincinnati (Washington Park and Over the Rhine), and those areas were two of the poorest achieving in the entire state. Fantastic ACT scores are, to put it midly, not exact a common occurrence in those settings (yes, I know he's originally from Huntington, but no one moves to NCH, especially the area OJ lived in, from any kind of affluent background).

No, I'm not being racist, elitist, or think that all poor people are dumb. I'm just saying it's very, very rare for that kind of achievement to happen with that kind of background--all the more reason to applaud OJ on his accomplishment.

Mayo went from Rose Hill to Cincy to Huntington. He is not a kid from those areas. He went there to play basketball. No secret about that. Without knowing the kid or his background or his family situation, there is no way someone could say the odds were against the kid being smart.

[Trueblujr]

yitbos wrote: I will bet all the money i have that the NCAA will be investigating USC very soon.
I don't know that they will be investigating USC necessarily, but I could envision the NCAA looking into Mayo in general, his track record of jumping from school to school and whatever AAU "arrangements" that he has been a part of. No way could Mayo have gone all these years with all of this national publicity and circus surrounding him and not have recieved some sort of inducements from shoe people or potential agents or other sources not neccessarily tied to USC.

[Aike]

Well I scored higher than that and never prepped a lick. And a lot of people on this site think I'm dumb as a brick. ;)

[Doug Hardin]

Allow me to clarify: I'm surprised at his score because, considering how much hype has come along with O.J. over the years, the I've never heard, " . . . and on top of his basketball skills, O.J. is a great student."

[UKfaninCO]

Woot! I outscored him. :tongue

[Gunsmoke]

Yeah I outscored by him 5 points! If I had hit my freethrows it would have been more!!:tongue

[BigBlueTude]

OJ is a very good kid that just may have allowed the hype to get to him.

second hand knowledge(my wifes good friend taught him at Rose Hill). She said hewas polite,a good student, and very personable.

I think we think these kids are thugs just because they are talented players. Alot of these kids are first rate people as well.

Oj may have fell into the hype some but I am sure he is still a very good kid.

[yitbos]

Guess I'm dumb, I only got a 26, but had gotten out of the hospital the night before I took my test and didnt prep at all. It was good enough to get into UK so I was happy.

[johnkyblue]

If he is from Ashland I have a profressor who always talks about how well prepared the kids from there are.

[justford]

Aike wrote: Well I scored higher than that and never prepped a lick. And a lot of people on this site think I'm dumb as a brick. ;)
Hey you're a poet and don't know it:beer:

[Will Lavender]

He beat my score pretty soundly.

I bet I could beat him in basketball, though! :X

[TrueblueCATfan]

Yes I am surprised...........my daughter is a straightA honor roll student and she only scored a 22....some kids do not do well on tests............evidently this kid is real smart