Jared Sullinger, Sophomore, Forward, Ohio State
Overview:
Jared Sullinger is a unique player that doesn't come around every day in that he enjoys duking it out in the paint. In today's game, too many post players want to roam around the perimeter and jack up jumpers. At 6-9 and weighing in at 280 pounds, Sullinger is a classic bruiser. He has great body control and uses it to his advantage to physically dominate defenders and finish around the basket at will.
While tearing up the competition through his freshman season, Sullinger averaged a double-double with 17.2 ppg and 10.2 rpg. His high level of play earned him Big Ten Player of the Year and Big Ten Tournament MVP. OSU was knocked out of the tournament earlier than they would have liked which also played a part into Sullinger's decision to return for his sophomore year. Although there are some flaws and room for improvement in his game, he will be an effective post at the next level.
Final Projection:
Sullinger fits the same mold as Kevin Love did coming out of UCLA. A strong, physical, imposing post player, Sullinger hits the glass consistently and eats up the rebounds. He has excellent fundamentals to go with skilled footwork. He is comfortable finishing with both hands and can knock down short jumpers. One looming question is his weight. He is not the most solid 280 pounds and it will be interesting to see if his body can withstand the physical demands of the NBA. If he can knock off about 15-20 pounds and improve his quickness and lateral movement, he will be a solid NBA player for many years.
5/31/12 Update by Dan Levine
Sullinger’s return to school for his sophomore year came as a surprise to some. His numbers were about the same in his second year, and his stock isn’t quite as high as it was last year (Anthony Davis effect?). But he’s still a big body that has too much athletic talent to slip past the lottery. He’s only 6’9” so he will have to play power forward at the next level. He is likely to go in the top 10.
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