Mayo’s agent off job to avoid ‘distraction’

O.J. Mayo and agent Calvin Andrews have severed ties in the wake of accusations that Andrews’ agency provided improper cash and benefits to a close friend of the former USC star guard.

“Due to the overwhelming intensity of recent allegations regarding the recruitment of O.J. Mayo, we feel that our representation of him is a distraction for he and his family at this time,” Andrews said in a statement Thursday.

“This should be the best time in his life and anything that takes away from that enjoyment and the experience of this process is not fair to him. We will maintain the greatest support and best wishes for him through this time and throughout what promises to be an excellent career for a very deserving young man.”

Andrews said in the statement, first reported on CNBC.com, that he would request that the NBA Players’ Assn. waive the required 15-day period in which players who sever ties with their agents must wait before seeking new representation.

Mayo could not be reached for comment, but his mother, Alisha, in a statement to ESPN.com, said: “As a family, we decided to modify O.J.’s inner circle and allow him to solely focus on improving his game without distraction in a structured, disciplined environment.”

Mike Woelfel, an attorney who was one of Mayo’s assistant coaches on the Huntington (W.Va.) High team that he led to a state title during his senior season, told ESPN.com that Mayo was in the process of selecting a new agent.

Andrews is vice president of Bill Duffy Associates Sports Management, which faces allegations by former Mayo confidant Louis Johnson that it provided more than $200,000 in cash and benefits to Los Angeles events promoter Rodney Guillory, a portion of which was funneled to Mayo.

Mayo and BDA have denied any wrongdoing and Guillory has been unavailable for comment.

Meanwhile, Gary Hall, the general counsel for the NBA Players’ Assn., has recused himself from the association’s investigation into whether any agent acting on behalf of BDA broke union rules by giving money or other benefits to Mayo because Hall once represented the agency as an attorney.

“I can confirm that Gary Hall has recused himself from any involvement in any investigation that the NBPA would have regarding BDA based on his prior representation as counsel for BDA,” said Dan Wasserman, a spokesman for the NBPA.

The investigation is expected to last several months.

Any agents found to have provided cash or other improper benefits to college athletes face sanctions that could include a reprimand, suspension or decertification that revokes their authority to negotiate with clubs on behalf of players.

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Staff writers Lance Pugmire and Mark Heisler contributed to this report.

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ben.bolch@latimes.com