At this time last year, a cloud of uncertainty loomed over the Mississippi State”s men”s basketball program.
Would the NCAA reinstate point guard Dee Bost after a draft-day gaffe saw him miss the NCAA deadline to withdraw his name by the newly established deadline?
How would the transfers of veterans Phil Turner and Romero Osby affect the team?
How would Renardo Sidney fare after sitting out a year as the NCAA resolved his eligibility issues?
This summer, Stansbury is issue free.
“Knock on wood, right now we know who we have in place,” he said Monday during the Southeastern Conference teleconference. “I think we have a chance.”
Sidney has been in Houston, Texas, working out with former NBA player and coach John Lucas. Stansbury said Sidney will enroll next month for MSU”s second summer term.
Stansbury hopes Sidney returns in better shape than he started last season. Sidney”s conditioning was an ongoing issue that held him back last season. He has been quiet this summer and hasn”t updated his twitter account since late May.
“He”s done well from what we”ve been told,” Stansbury said. “(We) haven”t been able to see him play. He”s been progressing (with conditioning). We”re not able to watch him, but as far as we understand it”s gone OK.”
Incoming freshman guard Deville Smith is the only other player not enrolled in summer school. Like Sidney, he”ll enroll for the July term.
A lot of changes for Kennedy, UM
University of Mississippi men”s basketball coach Andy Kennedy has three new assistant coaches and seven new players to bring together before the start of the season.
Still, he”s optimistic about the Rebels” chances this season with the new talent. The coup includes McDonald”s All-American Jelan Kendrick, a transfer guard from Memphis, who Kennedy hopes will be ready to play by January.
He”s the first McDonald”s All-American in the program”s history.
“We had a couple of guys on our staff that had opportunities to be head coaches,” Kennedy said. “I was real excited for them to have that opportunity. We were able to make that transition. Of our newcomers, three of the five guys (Jarvis Summers, Jamal Jones, and Aaron Jones) are here.”
Forward Murphy Holloway, who transferred to South Carolina last season, has returned to Ole Miss, though his playing status is undecided.
Holloway averaged 10.1 points and 7.6 rebounds per game as a sophomore in 2009-10 but sat out last season at South Carolina due to NCAA transfer rules.
“There”s really nothing new to report on Murphy finishing up his academic requirements at South Carolina,” Kennedy said. “The plan is to report (to the) second summer session. From there, we”ll go through the process with the NCAA and move forward.”
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