N.C. State basketball recruit Tyler Lewis is taking a step up in competition. Lewis, one of the top point guard prospects in the country, will finish his prep career at Oak Hill Academy.

Lewis, who will be a high school senior, averaged 27.2 points and 7.4 assists last season for Forsyth Country Day in Lewisville.

Lewis, who started as an eighth-grader at Forsyth Country Day, leaves as the school's career leading scorer with 1,927 points.

Oak Hill is a perennial power in Mouth of Wilson, Va.

"You want to play against the best competition," Lewis said. "I think it's the best thing for me to get ready for N.C. State."

ESPN's Dave Telep rates Lewis, a 5-foot-11 point guard, the 73rd-best prospect in the class of 2012. He joins top prospects Jarnell Stokes (ranked No. 18 by ESPN), D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera (32) and A.J. Hammons (63) in the Oak Hill lineup.

Lewis, who committed to N.C. State in October, was one of the best players at the Bob Gibbons Tournament of Champions in Raleigh in May and has seen his stock rise on the recruiting circuit with a strong spring and summer.

Football

Trojans' Tyler suspended: Southern California tailback Marc Tyler has been suspended from all team activities and the Trojans' season opener for comments he made to TMZ that implied he gets paid to play for USC.

When asked by TMZ whether he could make more money at USC or in the NFL, Tyler said, "USC, they breaking bread," making a gesture indicating a large stack of money.

USC coach Lane Kiffin suspended his leading rusher Monday for the Sept. 3 opener against Minnesota and possibly longer. The fifth-year senior is facing potential discipline from the school after what he said were two alcohol-related problems in April.

"I am disappointed that I let down all the people who have supported me as I have been working through some personal issues," Tyler said in a statement released by the school. "I realize how my behavior and my statements, even though I was joking, can reflect poorly on so many people. As a veteran player, I should know that my job is to be an example for the younger guys."

Associated Press