Renardo Sidney

This kid is sensational. I rarely put much stock in the hype of a senior in high school, but as I have stated before, this kid is the piece we were missing last year. A true "Diaper Dandy". Now I know nothing is official yet, but being a State fan, we get worked up over this stuff. Dare I say Pat Patterson? Anyway, this kid has it all. Watch his highlight tape. A 6'10" power forward with weight and muscle. A guy that can shoot the 3. A guy that can put the ball on the floor. A guy that has moves down low. It's no wonder he was rated the top player in his class when he was just a fledgling 8th grader in Jackson, Mississippi. What a roller coaster he has been through since then. An eligibility battle with the Mississippi High School Activities Association. A dad that wanted his son out of Mississippi so he could get noticed. A move to Los Angeles. A New York Times article regarding his secrets, i.e. sucking his thumb and a blanket he takes everywhere. Scouts saying he's lazy and that he might never reach his true potential. A whirlwind recruiting saga between the likes of USC, UCLA, and yes, Mississippi State.

I don't really care. This kid can flat out play ball. He will make our team better. If he is interested, we must find a scholarship for him. He is the "missing piece". A 4-guard line up isn't gonna be taking us to any Final 4's unless talents like MJ and Kobe arrive. A rotating line up consisting of 5 shooters and 4 big men will win us a national championship. Think about it. Swat, Sidney, Ravern, Randy, Dee. With guys like Kodi, Ro', Phil and Shaunessey coming off the bench. No one could stop it. Scoring power like the '96 team. Defensive presence like the '04 team. All into one. Calipari and Kentucky wouldn't know what hit 'em.

Not only would it surely make us a contender. We would immediately been thrown into the national spotlight. That's what these 1 and done's do nowadays. Take Michael Beasley and Kevin Durant. One year with a program, yet their programs are still feeling the effects of their short presence. The media attention would be astronomical. Expectations would be higher than ever. Exposure would be nationwide for recruits everywhere to see. The after-effects of Sidney would surely help to bring in that Fab 5 class from Mississippi for the class of 2011. We deserve for this to happen, what with the pain the NBA draft has inflicted on us over the past decade. Monta and Outlaw would surely have provided us with a National Title. I promise. Still though, I'll be satisfied the the Varnado-Renardo connection. Nice ring to it wouldn't you say?

I'm jumping the gun here. I'm in a dreamworld. Afterall, the kid is still committed to Southern Cal. But the proverbial "what ifs" are overwhelming. I did the same thing about 4 years ago with Ryan Perrilloux. Only to be disappointed. Still, it's fun ain't it?