Mississippi State's 2009 recruiting class landed one of the school's highest-ranked players with the signing of the highly touted Renardo Sidney out of Farifax High School in Los Angeles.

A native Mississippian who moved to California in 2006, Sidney averaged 26.5 points, 13.5 rebounds and 1.2 blocked shots this past season in leading the Lions to a 27-5 ledger.

"It's good to be coming back home," said Sidney, who averaged 24 points and 13.3 rebounds as junior. "A lot of my family hasn't been able to see me play the last three years and it will be good to be around them again."

The heralded Sidney, also a Parade All-American, was listed as the fifth-best player in the country by Scout.com and the seventh best by ESPN.

Last March, he was selected to the USA Basketball Men's Junior National Select Team, while in mid-April he was tabbed co-MVP at the Jordan Brand Classic at famed Madison Square Garden in New York City.

But it was the McDonald's All-Star game he became a national household name, scoring 11 points and grabbing six boards.

The All-Conference and All-State selection led Fairfax to the semifinals of the California state tournament as a junior and senior.

High School:
- The McDonald's All-American was 1st-team All-City (LA) and All-State selection as a junior and senior.
- Was a USA Junior National Select Team member and Naismith HS Player of the Year finalist.
- As a senior, was Redondo Tournament MVP, Les Schwab (OR) Invitational MVP and Jordan Brand Classic MVP and made All-Tournament team at Iolani National Classic in Hawaii.
- Averaged 24 points, 13.3 rebounds and 1.5 blocks as junior.
- Tabbed fourth-team Parade All-American and Cal-HiSports.com named him top junior in California after winning MVP honors at Amare Stoudemire Invitational.
- Sophomore year at Arestia High School, he led his team to the State Division 3 championship.
- Averaged 18.6 points, 9 rebounds and 2.7 blocks and earned All-State honors.

Personal:
Renardo Sidney Jr. was born Dec. 6, 1989, in Jackson, MS. ... Majoring in physical education. ... The son of Patricia and Renardo Sidney.