USC Receiver Johnson Investigated Over Loan

The Pacific 10 Conference is investigating a loan allegedly made to USC wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson while he was in junior college, trying to determine if it was an inducement to turn professional or to lure him to an agent.

The investigation has been ongoing, and David Price, associate commissioner of the conference, talked with Johnson on Thursday, a USC source said.

Such a loan could be deemed a violation of NCAA rules.

A source said the amount of money involved was “small” and was loaned by “a friend Keyshawn has known at least 15 years.”

There was no indication whether the money had been repaid.

Johnson was not available for comment.

Johnson, who went to Dorsey High, had decided to go to Miami, but because of grade problems, instead went to West Los Angeles College before going to USC. He struggled with both academics and discipline at West Los Angeles, being kicked off the team in his freshman season. He became a junior college All-American as a sophomore.

Highly recruited from West Los Angeles, he decided to attend USC, where he became an immediate starter last season, catching 66 passes for 1,362 yards and nine touchdowns and making All-Pac-10.

He is being accorded All-American status by many preseason publications and touted for the Heisman Trophy by USC.

Trojan Coach John Robinson emphasized that the incident occurred before Johnson became a Trojan.

“Keyshawn has cooperated fully,” Robinson said in a statement. “Because USC was not involved in this situation, we like everyone will have to wait for its outcome. We expect the matter to be resolved quickly.”

Penalties could range from Johnson’s being declared ineligible to no penalty at all, depending on the investigation’s finding of the nature of the loan.