PF Jared Sullinger (2x 1st Team ALL B1G & All American, Anyang KGC, S.Korea)

[sepia5]

Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/20...3/28/Jared.Sullinger/index.html#ixzz1qQntCrNW

GREAT article.

 

[Buckskin86]

The Franchise: Sullinger wears the label well
Zac Jackson

Jared Sullinger has averaged 20 points a game during the Buckeyes' past nine games. (Photo Credit: US PRESSWIRE)

COLUMBUS, Ohio ? Jared Sullinger is a model of consistency, a rare unselfish superstar. He's both the type of person and player Ohio State coach Thad Matta is proud to have as the face of his basketball program.

It?s a good thing Matta didn?t stop at his first impression.

It was only six years ago that Sullinger?s oldest brother, J.J., a captain of Ohio State?s 2006 Big Ten championship team, told Matta he needed to offer his brother a scholarship. Matta thought J.J. meant Julian Sullinger, the middle brother who played a year of junior-college ball before going on to Kent State.

No, J.J. said. He meant Jared, a middle-schooler at the time.

?Your fat little brother?? Matta asked.

Jared has grown up nicely. Now, he?s The Franchise. And the Buckeyes are playing in the Final Four this weekend.

Jared Sullinger was bred for this. The son of a coach, he has had a basketball in his hand since he was a toddler. He was barely in kindergarten when he started playing in competitive games with his brothers at a place in their South Columbus neighborhood called Little Marvin?s Court.

He developed an outside game to help him compete with older players and an inside game that helped him dominate at his own level. He was Big Jared, Fat Jared. Though he struggled with his conditioning, he never struggled to score. He was driven by the hatred of losing and the fear he would let his brothers down when they played as teammates on that neighborhood court.

His teams won multiple national AUU championships and an Ohio high school big-school state title in 2009. He won two Ohio Mr. Basketball awards. Yet Jared's greatest basketball accomplishment, Julian said, ?was the first time he beat me one-on-one.?

Helping his team to the Final Four, as he did with two big games in Boston at the East Regional last weekend, might change that.

?Being from Columbus, knowing how excited people are and knowing we?ve reached one of our goals in making the Final Four, it means a lot to me,? Jared Sullinger said. ?I love this city. Playing for Ohio State was one of my dreams, and actually having the chance to win a national championship is another.

?I can keep going on and on, but it's a dream come true.?

cont...

http://www.foxsportsohio.com/03/29/...ing_ohiostate.html?blockID=698608&feedID=3631

 

[daveeb]

In a draft class littered with questionable big men and swing men with character issues, it's tough to find lottery picks who carry less risk than Jared Sullinger. And tomorrow, he's going to show the world why.

 

[y0yoyoin]

Final Four 2012: Sullinger happy he put NBA on hold

?I wanted to make a statement that not everybody is using college basketball as a pit stop to go to the next level, that there?s more than money and endorsements," Sullinger said. ?There are championships that you?ve got to win at every level. That?s what I pride myself on. I?ve won a championship all the way from elementary to now, and now I?m trying to look towards the bigger trophy in the national championship. I pride myself on winning. That?s why I came back."

cont...​

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[Buckskin86]

Older siblings helped shape Ohio State star Jared Sullinger
Posted: 03/31/2012
By Tom Kensler
The Denver Post

NEW ORLEANS ? Jared Sullinger's father, Satch, likes to tell the story about why the Ohio State All-America forward smiles so much on the basketball court ? even when opponents try to shove him into the pep band.

It's because Jared has already been through about everything as the youngest of three hoops-playing brothers. J.J. Sullinger played at Ohio State and is 10 years older than Jared. Julian, a former Kent State player, is six years Jared's senior. The older brothers gave Jared "no slack," and pouting was not allowed, said Satch, who coached his sons at Northland High School in Columbus, Ohio.

"They never took it easy on me," Sullinger said in advance of tonight's national semifinal game against Kansas. "I was getting dunked on, I was getting embarrassed. I beat them off the dribble, and the next thing I know I was on the ground, scraping my elbow."

Sullinger need not look to Satch for sympathy, although Jared tried.

"My father," Jared said, "was like, 'Do you want me to pay for a trophy that says you are the best player in the world? Or do you want to go out there and earn it?' "

Growing up in that environment, it's no surprise that Sullinger has such a two-steps-ahead feel for the game.

"Having a father as a basketball coach ... when you're watching a game, you're not watching it, you're listening to your father just yap, yap about every little mistake, every little screen, every little shot, bad shot, good shot," Jared said.

cont...

Read more: Older siblings helped shape Ohio State star Jared Sullinger - The Denver Post http://www.denverpost.com/colleges/...ped-shape-ohio-state-star-jared#ixzz1qhKKt0FN

 

[Buckskin86]

No official word yet on whether or not Jared Sullinger has played his final basketball game for the Ohio State Buckeyes.

Sullinger, a two-time All-America forward, said after OSU's 64-62 loss to Kansas in the Final Four last night that he hasn't decided if he'll return for a junior season or leave school to enter the NBA draft in June.

"I'll probably sit down with my family and coaches and talk things over," Sullinger said. "I don't have a definite decision yet. We'll see when the time is ready."

OSU coach Thad Matta isn't certain about the future plans of Sullinger, who lead the Buckeyes in scoring and rebounding this season.

"He and I haven't even talked about next year," Matta said. "We'll talk when we get back. As always, I want what's best for the kids."

http://www.buckeyextra.com/content/stories/2012/04/01/sullinger-thomas-undecided.html

 

[LitlBuck]

I would not be shocked if he stayed one more year. I know that he has been compared to Kevin Love and since I don't follow the NBA that closely I can't really make a comparison. However, I didn't see Love play when he was in college and his outside game seemed a little bit better than Sullinger's at this point in time. I realize that by staying there will be tons of money lost but maybe Matta and Sullinger will come to some sort of agreement which will allow Jared to develop his outside game more if he does come back.

 

[Bill Lucas]

I would not be shocked if he stayed one more year. I know that he has been compared to Kevin Love and since I don't follow the NBA that closely I can't really make a comparison. However, I didn't see Love play when he was in college and his outside game seemed a little bit better than Sullinger's at this point in time. I realize that by staying there will be tons of money lost but maybe Matta and Sullinger will come to some sort of agreement which will allow Jared to develop his outside game more if he does come back.

Agreed. I also think if he stays Amir Williams will be too valuable to keep off the court. Sully would move to the 4 and we'd have a defensive presence in the paint.

 

[Coqui]

Sullinger, Williams, Smith, Thompson, and Craft as the starting five?

 

[exhawg]

Agreed. I also think if he stays Amir Williams will be too valuable to keep off the court. Sully would move to the 4 and we'd have a defensive presence in the paint.

Sully lost some draft stock this year by coming back, but I don't know if another year in college would hurt him more. He needs to spend the summer working on his long range shot because that is what he is going to need to make it in the NBA. Sully just isn't athletic enough for his size to be exclusively an inside player. If he can become a good outside shooter like Love it will make it easier for him to be a 4 in the NBA.

 

[UpNorth_Buckeye]

Agreed. I also think if he stays Amir Williams will be too valuable to keep off the court. Sully would move to the 4 and we'd have a defensive presence in the paint.

If Sully and Deshaun come back, a starting 5 of Craft at the 1, Smith Jr at the 2, Deshaun at the 3, Sully at the 4, Amir at the 5, with Ravenal, Thompson, Scott and Ross contributing off the bench.

I really don't think either, let alone both, come back. But if they do, we'd be pre-season #1 IMO.

 

[bucknut502]

If Sully and Deshaun come back, a starting 5 of Craft at the 1, Smith Jr at the 2, Deshaun at the 3, Sully at the 4, Amir at the 5, with Ravenal, Thompson, Scott and Ross contributing off the bench.

I really don't think either, let alone both, come back. But if they do, we'd be pre-season #1 IMO.

Yeah, I think so too but it would be close with Indiana. IU returns everyone except V. Jones, gets back Creek, and will bring in the #2 recruitng class.

The BigTen is going to be even better next year than it was this year. As bad as I hate to say it, TSUN, if Burke and Hardaway come back, will be a top 10 team, too...

 

[Mike80]

To be honest I think if Sully stays DT will stay on too. Think of that lineup.

Craft - Smith/Scott - DT/Ross - Sully/Ravenel - Williams/Ravenel

 

[OSU_Buckguy]

i'm not giving one thought to sully being around next year.

 

[Jake]

i'm not giving one thought to sully being around next year.

Or Deshaun Thomas.

If either return - much less both - I will be pleasantly surprised. We will be title contenders, again, if they do of course.