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

[Buckskin86]

NBA next logical step for Sullinger
Zac Jackson
April 2, 2012

Jared Sullinger walked off the court in New Orleans after the Buckeyes lost 64-62 to Kansas in the Final Four. (Bob Donnan-US PRESSWIRE)

Now that Ohio State's season is over, it's reasonable to assume Jared Sullinger is all but gone to the NBA.

Though the biggest butt in this equation remains the one Sullinger uses to gain position and leverage around the basket, his departure from the only college program he ever wanted to play for isn't a totally done deal.

It probably will be by the NBA's underclassmen entry deadline of April 10, but Sullinger at least has some thinking to do.

Entering the NBA Draft seems the next logical step for Sullinger, who surprised many by not leaving school a year ago. He's not going to be a top five pick -- and he might not be a top 10 pick -- but he's going to be a lottery pick when he does pick the NBA. He's averaged a little over 17 points and almost 10 rebounds per game over two college seasons and helped the Buckeyes to two outstanding seasons, including a Final Four appearance this year.

As far as the pounding he takes -- and gives -- in the paint, he might as well start getting paid for it.

But Sullinger said last year his one and only goal was to bring a national championship to his hometown and to Ohio State, and with his second half struggles in Saturday night's loss to Kansas he's going to have to get his over his anger and disappointment before he talks with his father and brothers and thinks about his impending NBA decision.

Anyone who knows Sullinger knew that was coming, and his father, Satch, provided as much insight as he could during an appearance on a Columbus television station Sunday night. Satch Sullinger said the family will talk through it and that one thing he knows for certain is that his youngest son will graduate from college regardless of what decision he makes.

"My question for Jared," Satch Sullinger said, "is, 'What do you have left to prove?'"

There, basically, is your answer.

cont...

http://www.foxsportsohio.com/04/02/...ing_ohiostate.html?blockID=700540&feedID=4015

 

[LitlBuck]

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

I mentioned this in another post but what position do you see Sullinger playing in the NBA I don't watch many NBA games and I know that he has been compared to Love. I saw Love in college and his perimeter skills look much better than Jared's.

 

[darbypitcher22]

You have to think he's gone. At least Satch is saying the right things in that he'll get his degree( I think JJ did, so he probably will too)

 

[BuckTilIDie6]

If and it looks more like when he does go, what a monster two years here. So glad that this team will go down in history as they made the final four. An easy group to cheer for. Best of luck to Sully no matter the decision!!

 

[PlanetFrnd]

I mentioned this in another post but what position do you see Sullinger playing in the NBA I don't watch many NBA games and I know that he has been compared to Love. I saw Love in college and his perimeter skills look much better than Jared's.

Love wasn't much stronger of a perimeter player in college. He has vastly improved his shooting as a pro. I don't see Love as a bad analog to Sully... Jared's hands are better... Love might have been a little more athletic coming out of college. I use the past tense because Love has improved his jumper and really worked on his fitness to become a viable inside outside player.

 

[ImFrigginFly]

Sullinger is leaving for the NBA as a power forward. There is no way he stays another year. There's only so many double/triple teams and blatant hacks that you can take before getting tired of it and preferring to get paid for it.

 

[heisman]

Agree he's gone based on what Satch has said. Disagree with Satch's premise, however, that Sully has nothing left to prove at the college level. Plenty to prove.

 

[scarletngray]

http://www.foxsportsohio.com/04/02/...ing_ohiostate.html?blockID=700540&feedID=4015

I love SULLY, but staying another year could help improve his game significantly. I agree with some of the other posters, there is still quite
a bit that he could prove in the realm of leadership and being a key part
of a championship team.

 

[daddyphatsacs]

As a fan I would love to see Sully back. As a realist I don't think it's very likely. With this said, I think Williams could end up being a better all around center than Sully three years from now. I'm not selling JS short, I just think he's a tweener and does have a tendency to whine a bit when he doesn't get his calls. I don't really like that out of a big man.

 

[CentralMOBuck]

As a fan I would love to see Sully back. As a realist I don't think it's very likely. With this said, I think Williams could end up being a better all around center than Sully three years from now. I'm not selling JS short, I just think he's a tweener and does have a tendency to whine a bit when he doesn't get his calls. I don't really like that out of a big man.

Sully's had to play out of position at tOSU so we could have the best lineup on the floor. If a NBA team takes him with the intentions of playing him as anything but a PF (Carlos Boozer type) they are crazy. Whining is the nature of today's game. Although I don't think most of Sully's whining is unwarranted. Dude takes a beating and doesn't get the calls he (or any other big man) deserves.

 

[OSUK]

Last year I felt he was a top 5 pick. This year, he's still a first rounder but probably somewhere around 15. He lost a ton of money staying for his soph year. Last year he had lots of scary talent on the perimeter. His weaknesses were exposed this year. For one, I realized that he has a vertical leap of around 6". He should stay at OSU, lose some more weight, and try to regain a top 5 or 10 status. Mainly, I love they guy and want to see him play some more in Scarlet and Gray. But anyone who thinks this guy is a lottery type pick isn't paying attention to what he can actually do against NBA quality size and talent.

 

[muffler dragon]

Last year I felt he was a top 5 pick. This year, he's still a first rounder but probably somewhere around 15. He lost a ton of money staying for his soph year. Last year he had lots of scary talent on the perimeter. His weaknesses were exposed this year. For one, I realized that he has a vertical leap of around 6". He should stay at OSU, lose some more weight, and try to regain a top 5 or 10 status. Mainly, I love they guy and want to see him play some more in Scarlet and Gray. But anyone who thinks this guy is a lottery type pick isn't paying attention to what he can actually do against NBA quality size and talent.

Jared maintained his numbers and became more of a leader of a less-talented squad. IMO, his worth increased. The only reason his draft stock would change would be because of the personnel available versus last year.

 

[ImFrigginFly]

Last year I felt he was a top 5 pick. This year, he's still a first rounder but probably somewhere around 15. He lost a ton of money staying for his soph year. Last year he had lots of scary talent on the perimeter. His weaknesses were exposed this year. For one, I realized that he has a vertical leap of around 6". He should stay at OSU, lose some more weight, and try to regain a top 5 or 10 status. Mainly, I love they guy and want to see him play some more in Scarlet and Gray. But anyone who thinks this guy is a lottery type pick isn't paying attention to what he can actually do against NBA quality size and talent.

I think you're crazy. Zero percent chance that Sullinger falls out of the top 10. NBA size. A great PF prospect. Polished around the rim on offense. Decent range. Rebounding ability. Vertical leap isn't everything.

 

[MililaniBuckeye]

Sullinger is leaving for the NBA as a power forward.

Despite not playing as one for his two years here? He'd be stupid to leave right now...the way he got pushed around during the Kansas exposed the fact he truly is not an NBA-caliber center and as noted needs the move to power forward, but he needs a year actually playing as one. He'll actull gain money by staying for his junior year and showing the NBA that he can indeed be a dominant power forward.

 

[NastyNatiBuck]

Despite not playing as one for his two years here? He'd be stupid to leave right now...the way he got pushed around during the Kansas exposed the fact he truly is not an NBA-caliber center and as noted needs the move to power forward, but he needs a year actually playing as one. He'll actull gain money by staying for his junior year and showing the NBA that he can indeed be a dominant power forward.

What does a year playing power forward accomplish for him in college? It isn't like football where a position switch means learning a new set of skills. About the only thing he'll do in the NBA that he didn't do a whole lot of is take 15 footers.

Also, in the NBA, rookie contracts aren't worth nearly as much. The second contract a good player gets is where the money is at. Every year he stays delays the start of his second contract by a year, costing him money. There is nothing he won't learn in the first 3 years of his rookie contract that coming back to OSU will teach him.