Attorney Donald Jackson has noticed progress in the case of his client, Renardo Sidney, a Mississippi State freshman basketball player.
Jackson held a meeting in his Montgomery, Ala., office Friday with MSU and NCAA representatives, and believes it could be an important step in getting Sidney eligible for the Bulldogs very soon.
The NCAA has been investigating Sidney’s status as an amateur athlete since MSU signed him in April.
On Sept. 14, Sidney was declared “not certified due to non-response” after failing to provide financial documents to NCAA investigators.
On Friday, all parties inspected information pertaining to the Sidney family bank accounts for the time it lived in Los Angeles.
The family relocated from Mississippi to California while Renardo was in high school and lived in several neighborhoods. Questions were raised about how the family could afford living in those neighborhoods.
The information provided at the meeting was to address any lingering concerns relative to possible violations. The family established income sources and linked all deposits to legitimately earned or borrowed funds.
“I think we are closer to a resolution,” Jackson said. “Friday was quite helpful as it clearly established the family’s ability to support their lifestyles, not that there was a need to establish this basic fact.”
Jackson continues to insist the NCAA hasn’t proven the Sidney family committed any rules violation and that Renardo should be allowed to play.
“If they come up with what they believe to be a violation, then there are steps that can be taken in the process to correct that,” Jackson said.
Jackson didn’t say what the next step would be, but he anticipates movement in the case in the next several days.
In the meantime, Sidney can practice with the Bulldogs but can’t play in exhibition or regular-season games until he’s cleared.
MSU coach Rick Stansbury is preparing his team as if Sidney won’t play any time soon.
“I don’t think about things I don’t have and don’t worry about things I can’t control,” Stansbury said. “If we have him, it’s an easy thing to fit in.”
Danny P Smith is the Assistant Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
