Woolridge’s game isn’t going to go out of style

When 6-foot-8 Renaldo Woolridge steps onto a basketball court, inquiring minds want to know how long it takes the junior to slip on all of his fashion accessories.

From three pairs of socks with alternating colors to black wrist bands, from a black headband to black leg pads, Woolridge appears as if he’s preparing to be on the cover of a fashion magazine.

“I was going to wear an arm sleeve, but they made a rule you can’t wear it on your elbow,” he said.

Lucky for Woolridge his game has substance to match his flashy wardrobe, stamping him as a crowd favorite.

He is averaging 19.9 points and 7.5 rebounds while emerging as a big-time college prospect at North Hollywood Harvard-Westlake, where he played only four minutes a game last season.

A growth spurt combined with improving shooting skills have helped contribute to the “wow” factor surrounding Woolridge, who is only 16 and still learning the game.

“As good as he is, he still doesn’t have that experience,” Coach Greg Hilliard said. “Each day, he picks up something new.”

Woolridge has turned in performances this season of 28 points and 16 rebounds against Oxnard Rio Mesa, 26 points against Clovis West and 16 points and eight rebounds against Sherman Oaks Notre Dame.

As the son of former NBA player Orlando Woolridge, he entered high school as a 6-1 freshman and was expected to blossom. As he continued to grow, he had to adjust to his constantly changing body.

Feeling awkward and uncoordinated at times, he drew comparisons to Harvard-Westlake’s most recent standout, 6-9 Alex Stepheson, a freshman at North Carolina who experienced similar growing pains until things started to click during his senior year.

“I’m trying to go day by day, letting it come to me,” Woolridge said. “I know that’s what Alex did, and I’m trying to do what I can until that day comes.”

That means the unpredictable can be expected each time down the court. Woolridge can look brilliant on one play, swishing a three-pointer or putting down a dunk, then the next time, he might stumble or get outmuscled for a rebound or loose ball. It’s simply a matter of consistency gained through experience, maturity and increased strength.

Right now, outside shooting is what he does best, and lots of credit goes to his older brother, Zach, a 6-6 former Harvard-Westlake defensive standout now at Princeton who comes home in the summer and guards Renaldo in games in the family’s backyard.

“That’s what helped my offensive game, because he’s such a good defender,” Renaldo said. “In the summer, he always guards me and when I come out here, I pretend he’s there and go as hard as I can.”

Woolridge also practices his shooting in his backyard, sometimes bringing out a lamp or chair and placing it on the court to serve as an imaginary defender to help him with his jumper.

And he’s always smiling, giving off an impression that he’s a teenager in harmony with the game.

“He’s a free spirit,” said his mother, Pat, who is divorced from Renaldo’s father, who lives in the South.

Basketball genes run in the family. Besides Renaldo and Zach, younger sister Tiana is a 6-1 eighth-grader with promising skills.

In the Harvard-Westlake gym, the retired jerseys of Jason and Jarron Collins, Bryce Taylor and Stepheson hang on the wall. One day Woolridge’s jersey could join them.

But he needs to keep progressing and to get his mind and body to function together on a regular basis.

One thing is certain: If he keeps donning his colorful accessories, he better be prepared to live up to expectations.

“I tell them all the time,” Hilliard said, “when you look that good, you have to be that good.”

Eric Sondheimer can be reached at eric.sondheimer@latimes.com