Company Apologizes to Miner for Use of Name in Rap Promotion

USC basketball star Harold Miner received a written apology Tuesday from a Las Vegas company, HBD, Inc., that had used his name without permission to promote a rap song entitled: “On Our Way to the NBA.”

The company had announced last week that Miner was one of four college basketball players who had agreed to cut a rap record. Miner told The Times on Monday that he had not agreed.

George Luster, vice president of HBD, Inc., issued the following statement Tuesday:

“HBD, Inc., apologizes that we reported that USC student basketball player Harold Miner was in any way involved with this project. Mr. Miner has in NO WAY agreed (verbally or otherwise) to me, that he would participate in this project, and Mr. Miner has in NO WAY said, to me, that he was forgoing his senior year at USC to enter the NBA draft.”

“I was in error for including his name without his personal consent.”

Miner said he had never been contacted by HBD, Inc.

“I know you can’t even see me being on stage and rapping,” Miner said. “It’s just ridiculous. I just want to clear it up so there’s not any doubt because it’s nothing I was involved in. I’ve never met with these people.”

He added that he is still undecided about giving up his final season of eligibility to make himself available for the NBA draft. The deadline for declaring is May 12.

The statement from HBD, Inc., maintains that the company is still negotiating with centers Christian Laettner of Duke and Shaquille O’Neal of LSU, forward Todd Day of Arkansas and sportscaster Dick Vitale to be included on the record.

However, Vitale said that the company hasn’t contacted him or the International Management Group, which represents him.

Nate Cebrun, Luster’s partner in the venture, said that Luster had been mistaken when he told The Times on Monday that Cebrun had obtained unwritten agreements with Miner, Laettner, O’Neal and Day to participate in the rap recording.