Star Hoops Recruit Not Coming To USC

By KURT HELIN

Updated 12:15 PM PST, Wed, Apr 29, 2009

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USC fans might want to put that Final Four hoops talk on hold for a bit.

One of the key cogs to that potential run — incoming super freshman Renardo Sidney — is not so incoming.

Sources close to USC's program and the Sidney family say the school and player have ended the recruiting process.

Sidney, a 6-foot-11 power forward, visited Mississippi State last weekend and a source close to the family said the Sidneys and USC had agreed upon "a mutual parting of the ways."

Does Sydney know something the rest of us don’t about a possible suspension due to recruitment activities around O.J. Mayo? Or, does he know that Demar DeRozan and Taj Gibson coming back, and he wanted to be the star and not have to share the spotlight?

Guessing what is in the mind of an 18-year-old high school basketball star is a pointless exercise. They don’t know what their thinking half the time, or over-eager fathers are doing it for them.

What I do know is that USC could fast be going from national title contender to mid Pac-10 team. If DeRozan and Gibson (as expected) head to the NBA and Sidney does not return, well, name a team that can lose its three biggest stars and still be a powerhouse.

Somebody send coach Tim Floyd some Alka-Seltzer. A case of it.