Sports

Rapper Lil Romeo on USC Basketball Roster

by Jon Azpiri | December 4, 2008 at 07:43 pm

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Rapper Lil Romeo has managed to work his way onto the USC basketball roster, but not without controversy.

The rapper, whose real name Percy Romeo Miller, has hardly impressed thus far. Miller has averaged just 0.7 points per game and just 2.7 minutes per game through the first three contests of the season, hardly the kind of production that justifies the four-year scholarship the school handed him.

Miller beamed with pride the day USC basketball handed him a scholarship.

"This is the most important thing I've had to do and hopefully it sends a message to kids across the country that education is more important than money," Miller said at the news conference. "Getting a college scholarship is more important than winning an American Music Award, and I plan to be the best student-athlete I can be at USC."

Percy Miller's signing with USC has always been controversial. Miller signed at USC at the same time as DeMar DeRozan, one of the country's top basketball prospects and Miller's best friends. Some of suggested that Lil Romeo's father--rap impresario Master P who is also named Percy Miller--helped broker the deal with Trojans head basketball coach Tim Floyd.

As you might expect, more than a few basketball observers have implied that they only signed Miller to entice his best friend DeRozan to join the Trojans. Since the team only hands out 13 basketball scholarships a year, it seems unfair that one would be handed out to a well-to-do rapper with average basketball skills in an effort to sign a star prospect.

Tim Floyd says that he scouted both players separately and that the two frends happened to both choose to attend the same school. Floyd does admit, however, that Romeo's celebrity was a factor in signing Miller.

Mr. Floyd says his staff had Mr. Miller on their radar before Mr. DeRozan signaled his interest. He describes Romeo as a "good little player" who must improve to get court time. Fame was a factor, he adds. "The more buzz you can create, the more news stories you can create, the better served you are as a program."

That doesn't sit well with Don Wetherell. His son Ryan, a 5-foot-11 guard, was one of the best high-school players in Canada and earned a walk-on spot at USC the last two seasons. Mr. Wetherell says he asked the USC staff how Mr. Miller's arrival would affect his son, who had been told that he had a "good shot" at a scholarship next year. He says they told him Ryan may still get the award -- and that Mr. Miller got his because of his relationship with Mr. DeRozan. (Mr. Floyd could not be reached for comment.) "We're learning a lot," says Mr. Wetherell, who owns a beverage company in Calgary.

Percy Miller is surprised by questions about his son's abilities or the scholarship.

"When you get out there and earn something, then you deserve a reward," he says. "Why shouldn't he accept a scholarship? That's like a trophy for all his hard work."

Romeo Miller agrees. Once he gets to USC, he says, "my game will speak for itself."

Thus far, Miller's game hasn't said much.

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dumzen

at 03:13 on December 5th, 2008

I suppose growing up as a young-boy "Star" has its own price and territotial limitations. But being a celebrity is another nightmare. If it is part of growing up to face bigger challenges, then it means this will prepare him to become a better child, man, husband, friend and or father.This is just a tip in the iceberg. As he grows older and wiser so are the challenges and the pitfalls.

Takin Shots

at 19:32 on December 10th, 2008

Percy Miller a.k.a. (Master P.) was a client of mine ( Angelo Speach ) while working at WOWI radio in Norfolk ( A Clear Channel station ). This picture was taken in 2000. Romeo was sitting right there to the right on the couch with his fathers entourage. They are both intelligent and really good people who have worked "smart" to get where they are today.

Takin Shots has contributed a photo to this story.

LONELYbabe (not verified)

at 06:37 on March 30th, 2009

Yes,yes!!!!R0me0 had to work hard to get where he at now.He was a boy now an man.He grow up over the years. I agree that he will be an great husband,friend,father, and man as his life grow.