Sidney and USC Parting Ways

As first rumored on Scout.com and subsequently reported on several other recruiting sites, high school All-American Renardo Sidney is not going to play at USC next season. A report in the Los Angeles Times Wednesday morning indicated that Sidney and USC had discussed the situation, and agreed to part ways in the recruiting process.

According to the report, the Sidney family was apprehensive regarding the allegations and NCAA investigation surrounding former Trojans O.J. Mayo and football star Reggie Bush. On the other side, the Trojans were originally worried about Sidney's eligibility, but he received a passing SAT score and had grades in 16 classes, which are necessary in order to be cleared by the NCAA.

Sources told the Times that Sidney has only one other option on the table at this point: Mississippi State. "Asked if Mississippi State is the front-runner to sign Sidney," the report reads, "the source close to the family said the Bulldogs were 'the only runner.'" Sidney is not looking into playing in Europe, a la Brandon Jennings and Jeremy Tyler.

Sidney is a 6-11 big man with a tremendous amount of talent, but he does not always work hard and tends to drift at times. When he is on, though, he is one of the most difficult players in the country to defend. Sidney can score inside and out, and can even handle the ball. He is ranked No. 16 by Rivals.com, a far cry from his top-five consensus ranking just a couple of years ago.