After four years of Jarvis Varnado blocking shots and Barry Stewart draining shots from behind the arc, a new leaf has turned in the Mississippi State basketball program.
Throw in forwards Romero Osby and Phil Turner transferring in the offseason, and there is room for a few new faces to make an impact on Rick Stansbury’s 13th Mississippi State team.
When the Bulldogs open the season against Tennessee State on Saturday, Jalen Steele and Brian Bryant will see their first action in a MSU uniform, while Renardo Sidney will have to serve his nine-game suspension handed down by the NCAA before he makes his debut.
There are also three players who will be returning to the court after missing most or all of the 2009-2010 season with injuries. Starting with the newbies, here’s a closer look at the new faces of Mississippi State basketball.
Brian Bryant- Jr. -6’3 160- Guard- Northwest Florida State
Bryant, a junior college transfer, is expected to play a major role in the Bulldog’s backcourt. With starting guard Dee Bost serving a suspension until January, Bryant will be one of the players filling in. 
When Bost returns to the lineup, it is likely that Bryant will remain the point guard while Bost moves to the two guard.
The Albany, Ga., native has drawn praise from Stansbury and teammates for his versatility, as well as his offensive rebounding.
“He’s got an all-around well-rounded game,” Stansbury said. “Most importantly, I think he’s a great teammate; one of those guys that does a lot of different things to help you win.”
Guard Twany Beckham called Bryant one of the best offensive rebounders he’s ever had to play against, even with a relatively small frame at 6’3″ 160 pounds.
Bryant said he has always attacked the offensive glass.
“In high school, I was playing more of the three and four, and I had to go rebound, so that translated to JUCO,” Bryant said. “Even though I was still playing the one I was going to rebound and our two guard was getting back.”
Bryant has developed a good chemistry with Bost as the duo played together at the Sanderson Center over the summer. That chemistry will make Bost’s possible switch to the two guard easier when he returns to the lineup.
Before Bost returns, expect Bryant to split time at point guard with Beckham, and when all three play, Stansbury will finally have depth at the guard position.
Jalen Steele- Fr- 6’3 190- Guard- Knoxville, TN
Steele is a 6’3″ sharpshooting guard from Tennessee. Sound familiar?
Steele has drawn comparisons to Barry Stewart throughout his recruiting process and during his first fall on the MSU campus. However, he still has a long way to go before he can play at Stewart’s level, according to Beckham.
“They’re the same height, they both can shoot,” Beckham said. “They both get after it on defense. Barry was probably one of the best defensive players I’ve seen or played with, so Jalen has a ways to go before he gets to that point.”
Steele, who was Tennessee’s AA Mr. Basketball in 2010, is expected to play a key role on the team as a freshman.
Stansbury said Steele, the final piece of the 2010 recruiting class, is a guy who is easy to coach because of his ability to pick up on techniques and schemes.
“Jalen’s a freshman, and he’ll have a learning curve, but I like where he’s at,” Stansbury said. “He’s gonna be put in a role here early, and he’s gonna have to step up and help us.”
Renardo Sidney – So- 6’9 250- Los Angeles, CA
Renardo Sidney has made enough headlines in Starkville to fill a four-year career, but the sophomore is still over a month from stepping on the court for the first time in a MSU uniform.
Sidney signed with MSU in April 2009, but an NCAA investigation into improper benefits received by Sidney’s family drug on until early March 2010. Sidney lived in Jackson, Miss., before moving to Los Angeles to further his basketball career. He committed to USC, but after his recruitment was looked into, USC withdrew the scholarship offer.
Ultimately, Sidney was forced to pay back $11,800 for the benefits he received and was suspended through the first nine games of the 2010-11 season.
The former McDonald’s All-American sat out all of last season while the investigation played out, and he has not played a game since his senior year of high school. His conditioning has been a concern for MSU coaches, and that was brought out after an under-whelming appearance in a scrimmage open to the public.
“Don’t expect too much from him too soon,” Stansbury said. “He’s got a long way to go. He’s gotta understand how hard you gotta work every day and the toughness this game is played with. It’s not gonna happen overnight. Is he better than he was? Absolutely, but he’s got a long way to go.”
Sidney will compete for playing time in the post with senior Elgin Bailey and sophomores Wendell Lewis and John Reik.
Hey, remember us?
Depth was a major issue for Rick Stansbury’s team last year, as three key contributors missed all or most of the season with injuries.
Sophomore guard Shaun Smith, along with Bailey and Beckham will make their returns to the hardwood and bolster the depth on the Bulldogs’ roster.
Beckham appeared in 33 games as a freshman before missing all of last season with two hip surgeries. Bailey, a junior, played in four games last year before undergoing knee surgery that ended his season.
Smith, from nearby Noxubee High School, played in the exhibition games last fall but has not seen the court since due to injuries. Bailey, Smith and Beckham will look to fix the lack of depth that hurt the Bulldogs so much last season.