Ordinarily, signing a recruit like Renardo Sidney would be considered a real coup for a school like Mississippi State. Instead, this sounds like a "be careful what you wish for" scenario for Bulldogs coach Rick Stansbury.
Sidney, a McDonald's All American and -- until last week -- the top unsigned frontcourt player in the class of 2009, "chose" Mississippi State over the likes of UCLA and USC. Why the quotes? According to an investigative report in the Los Angeles Times, both LA schools decided that the number two ranked power forward in his class would be far more trouble than he's worth.
Bruins and Trojans sources both say they were wary of potentially intense NCAA scrutiny prompted by these issues: Despite what was perceived as a limited income, the family moved multiple times and resided in upscale homes during Sidney's high school years; and stepfather Renardo Sr. directed a club basketball team with financial backing that was unclear beyond a relatively modest shoe company sponsorship. Plus there was this: A source intimately familiar with Sidney's recruitment said a university official thought the stepfather had strongly hinted that he expected to be compensated if his son signed with the school.USC, in particular, has reason to be concerned... they just danced this dance with OJ Mayo. If Stansbury and MSU are taking a risk, at least they're bring smart about it. Mississippi State has reportedly hired a law firm specifically tasked to researching issues with Sidney's eligibility.
Comments