Well, maybe not so much switched as compelled to look elsewhere. Renardo Sidney may be one of the top-ten recruits nationally, but he has not been quite as hotly pursued as you would expect for a 6-10 McDonald's All-American power forward. Sidney and his family made an event out of picking USC over UCLA, despite UCLA dropping interest several days prior. Apparently by mutual agreement, Sidney and USC have opted not to join. Instead Sidney will head to Mississippi State. If Jarvis Varnardo comes back to Mississippi State rather than staying in the draft, the Bulldogs will have one of the most dominant frontcourts in the SEC in 2009.
As for why Sidney made the late switch, both sides are spinning it their own way. USC seems to be suggesting that they are now fearful of his ability to qualify academically. Something that did not bother them earlier when he chose them.
The reality may be that after Reggie Bush and O.J. Mayo -- and the ongoing combined investigation -- USC felt it could not take a top player whose father has a "consulting" job with Reebok. Add in one-and-done DeMar DeRozan and his relationship with Percy "Master P" Miller and his family and his No Limits Sorts agent business, and the questions would just keep piling up on USC.
The Sidney clan is going with the stated desire of going back to Mississippi where Renardo grew up until the last few years. They are also hinting that they do not want to be caught in the middle of possible penalties to USC if the NCAA (ever) comes down on the Trojans.
