GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- Renaldo Woolridge returns to the Grand Rapids Drive for a second season with the Detroit Pistons' NBADL affiliate -- but he's spent the last two summers playing summer league ball with the Los Angeles Lakers. Woolridge is a SoCal native, playing a season at USC after graduating from Tennessee. He's also a self-made hip-hop artist who founded his own independent label during his freshman year in Knoxville.
During his offseason, Woolridge returned to USC's campus to coach some fellow music artists in a celebrity all-star basketball game, including Grammy Award winner Chris Brown.
"Chris can actually play a little bit," Woolridge told FOX 17 at the Drive's media day on November 3. "I was able to really work with him and he was getting a little frustrated during the game because as a point guard, he's coming off of screens and throwing passes and guys were missing lay-ups. So I told him, 'Use the screens and just shoot it yourself.' And he was really receptive to that."
Brown scored 30 points in the game, thanks in part to Woolridge's coaching.
"It was cool because somebody who's as successful as he is with music -- to be able to be in that role and letting your ego down and let somebody coach you -- especially like me -- it was crazy, so it was a great experience."
So what's the scouting report on the man they call "Breezy?"
"He's a combo guard for sure," Woolridge says. "Kind of an inconsistent shooter...but if he gets going, he's hot. He's a dancer so he's got incredible footwork. Unbelievable. His crossovers, spin moves, everything. He knows how to move on the court."
Photos courtesy of Cassy Athena
Highlights courtesy of Dunkademics
