The latest development in what has been an active late signing period has Renardo Sidney, the No. 7 prospect in the 2009 class, deciding to sign with Mississippi State. Sidney had previously been a USC commit.
Sidney has all the tools that make for a great college big man. His size and skills make him a matchup nightmare. When he plays around the rim, Sidney can seal his man and get deep catches whenever he wants. He has good post moves -- scoring most often off of a drop-step dunk.
He checks in around 260 pounds, so he could be in better shape. His 6-foot-10 frame has room to add muscle mass, as well.
Sidney is more than capable of being a program-changer for Mississippi State. However, he must maintain focus in order to reach his full potential as a basketball player. He'll need to utilize the resources at his disposal -- the strength coach, the academic support staff and the team's trainer -- to maximize his talent. Also, Sidney needs to approach this opportunity with the right attitude; that means he needs to work hard and be receptive to coaching.
If Jarvis Varnado, who declared for the draft but has not hired an agent, returns, Mississippi State's frontcourt will be among the best in the SEC. Sidney can play both inside and outside. He gives the Bulldogs, who won the SEC tournament last season, a nice high-low tandem when paired with the freakishly athletic Varnado. Sidney's presence also could help take pressure off of guard Barry Stewart -- a very capable outside shooter.
For USC, Sidney's departure couldn't have been timed worse. The Trojans could be losing three players to the NBA draft. Although they recently added point guard Lamont Jones (New York/Oak Hill) to their 2009 class, the Trojans made that addition on the heels of losing Solomon Hill (Los Angeles/Fairfax).
Traditionally Mississippi State hasn't lured many big-name recruits to Starkville. That said, Rick Stansbury has proven he can evaluate talent with the best of them. Stansbury finds under-the-radar players who are good for his system and develops them. In Sidney, he has a talented player who could be a go-to guy as a freshman.
Sidney joins Shaunessy Smith (Macon, Miss./Noxubee County) -- a big, athletic guard -- and Wendell Lewis (Selma, Ala.) -- a talented but raw big man -- in MSU's 2009 class. That trio should have the Bulldogs in contention for a spot in our final 2009 class rankings when they are released later this month.
Paul Biancardi is a veteran of the coaching ranks with years of college experience. He has recruited on a national level with stops as an assistant coach at Boston University and Boston College, associate head coach at Ohio State and most recently as an assistant at Saint Louis University. Biancardi was head coach at Wright State University from 2003 to 2006. In 2003, he was named Horizon League Coach of the Year. He is a selection committee member for the prestigious McDonald's All-America Game and the Gatorade Player of the Year award.