Former Tennessee men's basketball player Renaldo Woolridge will use his fifth year of eligibility playing for former Vols coach Kevin O'Neill at Southern Cal next season.
"I feel it's the right place and the right situation,'' Woolridge, who was granted a medical waiver by the NCAA earlier this year and will graduate with his degree in sociology in May, said Saturday. "I believe everything happens for a reason. Coach (Bruce) Pearl was very intense and verbal, Coach (Cuonzo) Martin had real hard practices and stressed defense, so I think I'm prepared to play for Coach O'Neill.
"It's kind of funny how things work out.''
Woolridge, known as "Swiperboy" when he performs rap music, wrote and recorded a song at UT called: "Never leave you like Kiffin,'' a reference to the controversial departure of former Tennessee football coach Lane Kiffin for Southern Cal after the 2009 season.
"I haven't talked to Coach Kiffin yet, but Coach O'Neill said he and Coach Kiffin talked about it, and they thought it was pretty funny,'' Woolridge said.
O'Neill coached at Tennessee 1994-97.
The 6-foot-9, 215-pound Woolridge, originally from Sherman Oaks, Calif., said the Trojans plan to utilize him at small forward, where he can take advantage of his 3-point shooting abilities and the potential for a mismatch by virtue of his length.
Woolridge played 93 games at UT, starting 20. He scored 300 points, an average of 3.2 per game.
Woolridge spent most of last season at power forward and center for the Vols, playing in 25 games and starting four. He averaged 4.3 points and 3.3 rebounds per game. He scored 17 points in UT's loss at Kentucky, hitting five consecutive 3-point shots in the first half.
But Woolridge will probably always be best known for spearheading the Vols' 76-68 win over then-No. 1 and undefeated Kansas on Jan. 10, 2010. Woolridge scored 14 points on 4-of-6 shooting and pulled down a team-high eight rebounds.
"I only have one year, so I wanted to find a place where I fit in, and the only thing USC doesn't have his a three man,'' Woolridge said. "It's big for me to come back to the West Coast. My mom and family are happy.''
Woolridge had narrowed his choices to Wake Forest, UNLV, UTEP, New Mexico and the Trojans after deciding to leave Tennessee.
Woolridge is UT's second transfer since the season ended. Freshman guard Wes Washpun is returning to his home state to play for Northern Iowa.
Mike Strange contributed to this report.
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Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 38
WetumpkaThumpa writes:
USC is the perfect place for Swiperboy and his rap video's.
BigVolinCarolina writes:
I wish Renaldo the best but, I have to admit, I'm having difficulty seeing this working out well for him in basketball terms.
pupvol writes:
playing for Kevin Oneil? I don't see it!
gatorstomper writes:
baby dont leave me like kiffin. HA HA HA
Razor784 writes:
They're getting a good one, nobody could rap like Swiperboy
heyitsme writes:
LOL. Must be tough being a forty-one year old virgin...
JimmyJoe writes:
Honestly... I could not care less about this.
Bubba_Knows writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Ironcity writes:
I wish nothing but the best for Swiperboy. He handle himself with class when he was here and in leaving UT. UT and Martin were not a good fit so this works out for everyone. The real message for ball players is if you handle your business in the classroom you are free to move wherever you want. Congrats to Swiperboy and good luck at USC.
rdrgtr writes:
How are we going to make it after we lose his 3.2 points per game? He was a highly sought after player coming out of high school. He obviously had other interests other basketball. Look at his frame. He is a prototype for what a scoring machine should be. 6'9", strong and lean. Put Sky Mcbee in Swiperboys body and you get 18+ points a night. Good luck young man.
Bigger_Al writes:
Go Swiper Boy. But play tricks on O'Neill and Kiffin any chance you get!
shamrocktexasvol writes:
See Ya, swiperdude. Say hello to what's her name you know the pretty blonde chick.
UT2006 writes:
I'll have to admit I would have liked to have seen him accomplish more especially after a pretty productive freshman campaign. Wish you the best though Renaldo, hope you end your basketball career on a positive note.
budd#207344 writes:
O'neil is a good coach who understands the game. Wish Swiperboy well because he got the most from his education.
flatrock writes:
Again, you have no clue.
BillsBrother writes:
Dignity, professionalism, grace and class...
Based on the paragraph above, it appears that the poster is unqualified to judge such qualities.
volthrunthru#658770 writes:
Sammy...
GonzoQuonzo is none of the above, in your post.
He is in over his head, making obvious coaching mistake after obvious coaching mistake, especially in games. But he is not clear outside the competitive arena, either.
He just lost the top recruit in TN---a 5star guy, and great friend of current PF Stokes...
who was tight as could be with UT, until he saw the lousy recruiting class GonzoQuonzo was able to get together---not talking about Stokes, who is a Pearl find and commitment, despite Pearl's having been gone when it came time to sign. (The early departure for Stokes had already been planned by Pearl and company; then they were gone, and Gonzo got the player and to the ignorant in the fanbase, gets the credit.
And one more comment, just to make it plain: this kid who pulled back from UT is Stokes' best bud from Memphis. The kid's suddenly growing cold can be interpreted as real rejection of Martin...by Stokes...
because of lousy recruiting prowess, lousy coaching prowess or just plain, "we don't want none of whatever it is you are sellin'."
Whatever it is, it reflects poorly on Martin & his inept staff.
Another inept Hamilton hire.
Riddle # 1: What do Doodley,Kiffin abd Martin have in common with Pat Summitt, other than having worked at UT?
Give Up?
Answer: "Nothing. Coach Summitt should have been a head coach at Tennessee."
Riddle # 2: What fact does that same bunch have that is NOT in common with Coach Summitt?
Answer...Not that they are boys and she is a girl. Rather, she is the only one not recruited by that doofus, Hamilton.
Go Vols! Work hard to ignore your coaches until real coaching arrives---which means Hart and the sleazy Florida doofus will need to be fired first.
claiborneh writes:
Let's get real here. He's not going to USC for basketball. He's going to Hollywood with dreams of being a rapper. If this is what the transfer is really about, then maybe he should finish up his degree, forget about basketball, and concentrate on his real love. Just speculating
Fall_Creek_Vols writes:
Another obvious case of P.W.I. (Posting while intoxicated).
Just take the medicine. It'll be better in the morning.
mocsandvolsfan writes:
I can't help but like Renaldo. He seems to be a good young man who happens to be talented in more than one area and at least is doing something with his life. He's not a basketball star anymore like in high school but it is his choice. He just took advantage of the scholly and shot a few baskets while getting a degree. Lots of players do that. It is a little discouraging though for us fans who see the "star" potential unfulfilled as a bball player. Who knows maybe O'Neal will help him see his "star" future is bball. I mean look at "Shak". Didn't he do a little rap or two AFTER his bball career was established?
Anyhow I wish the best for Swiper as he continues the great search of careers.
volsindallas writes:
I wish him much success for a great future to a very good person. Just don't compromise your character and cheer for USC football.
Go VOLS!
crappieking writes:
I am convinced that coach Martin is a class act, and a very good basketball coach. I am convinced that coach Dooley is not a good football coach and will be fired after the upcoming 4-8 or 5-7 season. That being said, I am convinced that I am dumber for reading your post and, you sir, are an idiot.
Blue_Duck_Vol writes:
This isn't like DeAnthony leaving. This would be more akin to a Cody Pope type player wanting to transfer. Arnett was going to and will contribute at Michigan State. Woolridge had 1 game in 4 years.
Also Arnett said he wanted to be "close to his dying father" even though his mother wrote a letter to Dooley talking about how she wanted him to be the father figure that he never had back home. But ya know... Don't let facts get in the way of your ignorance.
Blue_Duck_Vol writes:
Know who else was a Hamilton hire? Bruce Pearl. Funny how you failed to mention that.
BIVOLAR_BEARE writes:
There's plenty of room on the bench in SoCal, no need to travel 2,500 miles to ride the pine..Just sayin'
underthehill writes:
Potential is an unpredictable thing..no question Renaldo has it..can he suddenly grow up and compete..if he does..he will make S Cal an excellent player..
givehim6 writes:
I was just thinking how strange it is the connection is between UT and USC. There is this, Kiffin, O'Neal, then M.J., then T Martin. Things that make you go humm?
BIVOLAR_BEARE writes:
It's just another era in UT FB, much like the connection with FU and Spurrier/Tenn. native and Doug Dickey/Fl. native..Ron Crook/Zook gave his UT playbook to FU after he left the UT coaching staff..Now we have the latest irony with SoCal, but really UT isn't so much USC/East rather Bama/North...Just sayin & HBTV!!
BigOrangeSmoker writes:
i guess playing for coach oneil is ALOT better than playing for the pitful excuse of a coach we got now,good job young man...wonder how many more will take thier talents some place elese instead of playing for this god awlful coach.I dont blame any of em
WetumpkaThumpa writes:
It is common knowledge that former Vol Ernie Grunfeld actually hired Bruce Pearl. They are both of the Jewish faith and Grunfeld knew Pearl long before Mike Hamilton destroyed the athletic department.
mocsandvolsfan writes:
I know some good counselors for you two? I'd hate to see ya'll break up!! Hmm maybe some help from the Psychology grads??
For the readers that don't know these KNSers?
See they really just want idiots (like me) to respond to the idiot remarks to get idiot posts on here to make the idiot readers....oops I think I just used the word idiots above the allowed number of times!!.
Sorry about that! I was an idiot for doing so.
mocsandvolsfan writes:
Oh yeh!! The above was in response to the one above that one that was above the above one. I think.
GONAVY (Inactive) writes:
You're correct.
Blue_Duck_Vol writes:
That's funny I didn't know that Ernie Grunfeld was the Athletic Director...
Quit trying to revise history to fit into how you feel. Morons
asmith writes:
usc needs all the help that they can get. obviously.
WelovePat writes:
Totally agree...what a pure athlete. Its seems coaches were seeing something in practice that kept him from getting playing time. He did contribute at times, but I think he would try to hard to prove himself with his limited minutes. I'm hoping he gets a chance to show his true athletic ability:)
dcap8424 writes:
I think he knows Ernie was never the Athletic Director. Do you think the AD has the only say in who they hire? Hamilton did absolutely nothing but raise money, the one thing he was good at apparently. If you think Hamilton made all the decisions on the hires while he was here, you clearly don't know how it works at UT. Haslem and all other big donors vote with their dollars on all decisions.
MilitaryBrat writes:
I agree with you, but it is funny that Hamilton gets all of the blame, for bad hires, when he was just being a yes man to the Boosters.
Like Dooley's interview visit to UT. He got flown here by Haslem's private Jet. Which makes me think Haslem got Dooley hired. And who probably has a big say in if he stays or goes.
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