USC basketball: Renaldo Woolridge transferring from Tennessee

Renaldo Woolridge, a 6-foot-9 forward who played at Tennessee, said he was transferring to USC and is looking forward to playing in the 2012-13 season with the Trojans.

Woolridge, the son of former NBA player Orlando Woolridge, will “walk” as a Tennessee graduate this spring and then complete a few hours of coursework during a mini-term that will enable him to play for the Trojans without having to sit out a season.

Woolridge, who played at Studio City Harvard-Westlake High, averaged 4.3 points and 3.3 rebounds last season. He joins a USC team that was decimated by injuries and finished 6-26.

“A lot of times, it takes a fall for a team to be able to rise,” Woolridge said. “They had a lot of guys hurt and they have a lot of young guys coming back. I can’t wait to contribute.”

Woolridge said he chose USC as his transfer destination because of his relationship with the coaching staff. Assistant Bob Cantu recruited Woolridge when he was in high school.

Woolridge said it was “50-50” between Tennessee and USC when he was coming out of Harvard-Westlake and that he was looking forward to finishing his college career with the Trojans.

Woolridge is the latest player to join a program that will also welcome JC transfer guard J.T. Terrell, Serbian forward Strahinja Gavrilovic and Brendyn Taylor, a guard from Fairfax High. Redshirts Ari Stewart and Eric Wise, who sat out last season after transferring from Wake Forest and UC Irvine, respectively, also will be eligible.

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USC basketball: Renaldo Woolridge transferring from Tennessee