Renardo Sidney poses during a photo shoot before the McDonald's High School All American Game last April. (US PRESSWIRE)

And could you blame him?

Blame was tossed around like a Nerf ball through the Mississippi State forward’s non-existent freshman year. He never saw the court due to the NCAA’s verdict that Sidney and his parents had received too many benefits while he was still in high school.

Jason King of Yahoo! Sports got a one-on-one with Sidney last week, his story running yesterday. It’s an interview that further shows Sidney’s obvious eagerness to get back on the court, but yet again his youthful/immature side is still there.

King opens his piece by detailing how Sidney would like to portray a Bulldog, collar and leash and all, at the team’s Midnight Madness festivities this Friday. It’s an uncomfortable picture that’s painted, but Sidney’s a person we’ve yet to get a true lens on to this point.

His admission to wanting to quit the team, the college game, was something I’m glad Sidney copped to. Because it had to be tracing through his mind all of last season. Not everyone could/would admit something like that. Behind all the NCAA headaches, he was a talented player who had lost his drive. It’s only remarkable that he’s still in college because, I think, the NBA wasn’t a realistic opportunity after his reputation on and off the floor were stained last season.

“Basically,” he said, “I just wanted to quit.”

Sidney paused.

“I felt like giving up,” he said. “I felt like no one liked me anymore. I didn’t think I’d ever get to play in college.”

No longer motivated, he stopped going to practices and watching his diet. In short, Sidney stopped caring.

And this was merely an extension of Sidney’s disposition since the 11th grade, when he moved to California. Sidney told King the L.A. life got to his head, and the game he loved from seventh grade to 10th wasn’t such an important thing anymore. The McDonald’s All-American has had weight issues for years now. He ballooned to 312 pounds last year. King’s story states Sidney is now down to 285.

Good to finally hear him talk. Now we’re all ready to see him play.