ESPN reports:
The NCAA has ruled Mississippi State forward Renardo Sidney will have to repay $11,800 in improper benefits and sit out the remainder of this season and nine games next season if he wants to play for the Bulldogs.
Sidney said he does.
“I am glad the process is over with,” Sidney said in a statement. “I can go to sleep knowing I can play next year. I just want everybody to know I’m coming back next year. God does everything for a reason, and this is no different. I thank my mom, coaches, teammates, Mississippi State and all the fans. They’ve helped me get through all of this, and it will make next year very special.”
Sidney, a highly regarded recruit who grew up in Jackson, Miss., and played at a Los Angeles high school, received preferential treatment and improper benefits because of his talent, an NCAA statement Friday. The statement also said he violated ethics rules by providing false or misleading statements.
