So this is what all the fuss was about? In the 2009 recruiting class, Renardo Sidney was considered one of the premier players. At worst, he was in the top-15 of every basketball recruiting service's rankings.
But like many of those prima donnas, he came with baggage galore.
When college basketball head coaches take chances on high-risk, high-reward players, they know what they're getting into. O.J Mayo brought Tim Floyd a trip to the NCAA Tournament, but Mayo essentially delivered Floyd a pink slip as well.
As for Sidney, it has been a tiring 18-month quest for Mississippi St. to get him on the court. Due to an NCAA suspension that covered his entire freshman season and nine games this year, Sidney has only played a pair of games at the collegiate level.
Following his first game, he was suspended by head coach Rick Stansbury for ‘conduct detrimental to the team.’
After Sidney’s second game on Dec. 23, he got into a fight with teammate Elgin Bailey. The entire episode was caught on tape by ESPN cameras.
As you can see on this film clip, Sidney isn’t afraid to throw haymakers with bad intentions.
Sidney clearly doesn’t appreciate the chance to wear the Mississippi St. uniform. After all the time it took to get him on the court, he was so grateful that he risked his status on the team twice in the span of one week.
This is an absolute no-brainer for Stansbury, who will surely dismiss Sidney from the team in the next 24-48 hours. If he doesn’t, Sidney will be back in the news again before long.
And once again, it’ll be the type of negative news you don’t want your program attached to. Do the right thing, Rick Stansbury, the risk isn’t worth the reward for Renardo Sidney.
Brian Edwards can be reached at briane@vegasinsider.com.
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