LOS ANGELES — O.J. Mayo is leaving Southern California after one season to enter the NBA draft.

Mayo plans to hire an agent, which would prevent him from returning to the Trojans. He said he plans to finish his spring classes and then prepare for the June draft.

“I am so thankful for the fans and alumni at USC and around the nation that have been so supportive of me and my teammates throughout the season,” Mayo said in a statement. “I’d like to express my appreciation to my coaches and teammates for their support in one of the most important decisions I’ve ever made.”

Mayo helped the Trojans to a 21-12 record, giving them back-to-back 20-win seasons for the first time since 2001-02. Their wins included an upset of crosstown-rival UCLA. He averaged 20.7 points and 4.5 rebounds, and set freshman school records for scoring average, points in a season (684) and 3-pointers (88).

“This comes as no surprise,” coach Tim Floyd said. “We are appreciative of everything O.J. did for all of us the year he was with us. We wish him well. I have no doubt that he will be a great professional.”

Love and Collison may stay

LOS ANGELES — UCLA All-American Kevin Love and teammate Darren Collison have not yet decided whether they will make themselves available for the NBA draft, coach Ben Howland said Wednesday.

He dismissed a report on the Los Angeles Times’ Web site that said the players had decided to leave and were expected to hire agents, which would prevent them from returning to the Bruins next season.

“It’s an erroneous report,” Howland, adding that Love and Collison were very upset about the report because they had yet to discuss their future with their families.

College players have until April 27 to declare for the June draft.

LSUpursues Stanford coach

NEW ORLEANS — LSU intends to hire Stanford’s Trent Johnson, who led the Cardinal to the round of 16 in this year’s NCAA tournament, as its new coach.

Several people at LSU familiar with the selection process said a formal announcement was expected by today. The people asked to remain anonymous because the hiring was not yet official.

Stanford athletic director Bob Bowlsby said in an e-mail to The Associated Press on Wednesday afternoon that Johnson was given permission to talk to LSU but had not yet resigned.

“LSU notified me that they wanted to talk with him this morning as I was leaving Tampa” following the women’s Final Four, Bowlsby said. “The position probably pays twice what ours does so I expect he feels he has to listen. Trent has not informed me that he has accepted another position.”

Bayno gets five-year deal at LMU

LOS ANGELES — Bill Bayno returned to college basketball after an eight-year absence Wednesday, signing a five-year deal to coach Loyola Marymount.

Bayno guided UNLV to a 95-65 record and two NCAA tournament appearances in 1995-2000. He was fired during the 2000-2001 season after allegations he broke rules in the recruiting of Lamar Odom in 1996 and 1997, but the NCAA cleared him of wrongdoing. He later filed a wrongful termination suit and received a settlement from UNLV.

Bayno spent the last five years as an assistant and scout with the Portland Trail Blazers. Before joining the Blazers, he coached the Yakima Sun Kings in the CBA for 1 1/2 seasons and coached in the Philippine pro basketball league in 2002.

STEROIDS

Guillen’s suspension delayed

NEW YORK — Jose Guillen’s 15-day suspension was put on hold through Tuesday by Major League Baseball and the players’ association, an indication they are nearing an agreement that would eliminate the penalty and toughen the sport’s drug rules.

Guillen and Jay Gibbons were suspended Dec. 6 by commissioner Bud Selig following media reports linking them to performance-enhancing drugs. Major League Baseball and the players’ union announced March 28 they were putting the suspensions of Guillen and Jay Gibbons on hold for 10 days, giving lawyers more time to reach an agreement that would toughen the drug policy.

McNamee asks for Clemens lawyer to be removed from case

HOUSTON — Brian McNamee’s lawyers told a federal judge that Roger Clemens’ lead lawyer should be removed from the case because he might be forced to attack the credibility of Andy Pettitte, a former client of the same attorney.

“Pettitte is central in every detail of this case. And they are going to have to go after him,” Richard Emery, one of McNamee’s lawyers, said during a two-hour hearing before U.S. District Judge Keith Ellison.

Clemens filed a defamation suit in January against McNamee, his former trainer, after McNamee accused him in the Mitchell Report of using performance-enhancing drugs in 1998, 2000 and 2001.

Rusty Hardin, the lawyer McNamee is attempting to remove from the case, originally represented Clemens and Pettitte before the release of the Mitchell Report. Pettitte then switched to other attorneys.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Liberty to play game outdoors

NEW YORK — The New York Liberty will host the first regular-season outdoor game in professional basketball.

The Liberty Outdoor Classic will be held July 19 at Arthur Ashe Stadium in the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. The Liberty will play the Indiana Fever in the first non-tennis sporting event at the venue, which is home to the U.S. Open.

Parker top pick in WNBAdraft

PALM HARBOR, Fla. — Candace Parker was selected No. 1 by the Los Angeles Sparks in the WNBA draft, a day after capping her college career by leading Tennessee to a second straight NCAA title.

The Associated Press player of the year joins Lisa Leslie, turning Los Angeles into one of the top teams in the league. The Sparks were a franchise-worst 10-24 last season with Leslie sitting out after giving birth to a daughter in June.

LSU senior Sylvia Fowles was taken second by the Chicago Sky. The 6-foot-6 center led the Lady Tigers to four straight Final Fours and scored 24 points and had 20 rebounds in their 47-46 semifinal loss to Tennessee.

Stanford star Candice Wiggins, whose team finished runner-up, went third to the Minnesota Lynx. Alexis Hornbuckle of Tennessee was chosen by Detroit and Matee Ajavon of Rutgers was selected by Houston, rounding out the top five.

SOCCER

Americans qualify for Olympics

CIUDAD JUAREZ, Mexico — The U.S. women’s soccer team qualified for the Beijing Olympics, beating Costa Rica 3-0 in windy conditions Wednesday night in the CONCACAF qualifying tournament semifinals.

Natasha Kai had two goals and an assist — all in the second half — for the United States, which will face Canada in the final Saturday night. Canada also earned a spot in Beijing with its 1-0 victory over Mexico in the second semifinal.

Kai opened the scoring in the 58th minute off Tobin Heath’s cross, set up Heather O’Reilly’s goal in the 73rd minute and scored her second goal in extra time.

Melissa Tancredi scored for Canada.

TENNIS

Venus Williams will miss another tournament next week in Charleston, S.C., as she undergoes tests for a medical issue that her agent said isn’t serious.

The six-time major champion and former No. 1-ranked woman plans to return to the tour at next month’s Italian Open, then participate in the year’s remaining Grand Slam tournaments.

Williams, ranked No. 6, already was sitting out this week’s tournament at Amelia Island, Fla., and she withdrew from Charleston on Wednesday. She did not cite an injury in pulling out of those events, and is making off-court appearances at both.

Williams played last week at Key Biscayne, Fla., reaching the quarterfinals before losing to Svetlana Kuznetsova in straight sets.