Sullinger - A rare breed of star

[Chris]

Sullinger unspoiled by success

As he rolls up the sleeves of his hoodie, the only blemishes on Sullinger’s arms are the scratches he endured in the previous night’s game against Purdue.

Sullinger, 18, shakes his head when asked if he plans to get any tats in the future.

“Nope, never,” says Sullinger, a Columbus native. “I want to be different. I don’t want to be the stereotypical, flashy athlete, the guy a lot of people look at and assume doesn’t work hard. I’ve never been flashy. I never will be flashy. I don’t want that.”

He smiles.

“I want to be Jared Sullinger,” he says. “Or just Jared.”

Even though he has things under control, there are times when Jared needs an escape, some alone-time to collect his thoughts. Often he’ll drive to the Schottenstein Center late at night and relax by himself in the locker room. On two occasions he’s found himself sitting on the Buckeyes logo at center court around 2 a.m., gazing into the stands as he thinks not about the past or the future.

But about the present.

Weren't people saying this guy was kind of a jerk/primadonna in high school or something? Even people on here? From what I've seen from the guy and heard, he seems like the exact opposite.

I get weird vibes from Sullinger. The guy just seems...different. I'm starting to think maybe, just maybe he will be back?

 

[Snowblind]

I want him on the Cavs or back at OSU. I think one more year to polish his game and fill out physically should do him good.

 

[Rist77]

According to sources, Sullinger has battled insomnia in the past and could be found roaming the halls in the wee hours at the adidas Nations camp a few years ago. This isn't considered a major problem, but something that teams will obviously look into when the psychological evaluation tests begin.

NBAdraft.net

I'm guessing it's another case of insomnia. I still have a hard time seeing him not entering the draft this June.

 

[DougHeil]

Let's just hope he remains this different once he gets millions in the NBA. I also believe he's staying for at least one more year at OSU. What a powerhouse OSU could be with the new recruits coming in.

 

[Rist77]

I think some you only envision him staying because you want him to.

 

[Chris]

I think some you only envision him staying because you want him to.

Not me. I was perfectly fine with and had accepted he was leaving until I started hearing all this crap about him staying. I really don't care that much if he goes. He deserves to go if he wants to. We have a great shot this year and some more beast ass recruits coming in next year. If he stays, he'll certainly be one of my favorite players ever, though.

 

[DougHeil]

I think some you only envision him staying because you want him to.

Of course I want him to as I'm an OSU sports fan. Duh?

At the same time I think this kid is smart enough to understand he could really improve by staying another year. I think he will. I don't know his immediate family's financial situation though.

Another reason he will stay; A NBA lockout means players coming out and entering the NBA draft this year would not get paid one red cent until things are resolved. If the lockout happened to wipe out the entire season, the players not only would not be paid, they would not be playing basketball either. We won't know the status of any lockout, etc until AFTER this year's NBA draft. What does this mean? It means players like Sullinger and Irving, etc would be taking a HUGE risk by entering this year's draft.

A lockout would also help the Cavs because their draft spot this year would then be the same in next year's draft. We could get two #1 picks in successive drafts.

 

[BlueSeats626]

I'm rooting for an NBA lockout so he stays. This OSU team is so much fun this year.

 

["Boobie" Gibson]

DougHeil -- wouldn't that be amazing, successive number 1's? Just think, PJ3 this year and Irving/Sullinger next

We wouldn't have to be afraid of PJ3 busting on his ass if that were to happen! We could only hope.

 

[Chris]

Wait, how does that work? We could still draft top 4 this year and then automatically have a top 4 next draft??

 

[Rist77]

Of course I want him to as I'm an OSU sports fan. Duh?

At the same time I think this kid is smart enough to understand he could really improve by staying another year. I think he will. I don't know his immediate family's financial situation though.

Another reason he will stay; A NBA lockout means players coming out and entering the NBA draft this year would not get paid one red cent until things are resolved. If the lockout happened to wipe out the entire season, the players not only would not be paid, they would not be playing basketball either. We won't know the status of any lockout, etc until AFTER this year's NBA draft. What does this mean? It means players like Sullinger and Irving, etc would be taking a HUGE risk by entering this year's draft.

A lockout would also help the Cavs because their draft spot this year would then be the same in next year's draft. We could get two #1 picks in successive drafts.

We'll see.

 

[MYoung23]

Agents will float their top picks cash during a lockout.

 

[Obawan12]

Wait, how does that work? We could still draft top 4 this year and then automatically have a top 4 next draft??

I'm wondering the same thing...

 

[BlueSeats626]

Wait, how does that work? We could still draft top 4 this year and then automatically have a top 4 next draft??

I thought I read somewhere (maybe on RCF?) that draft order the year after a lockout would be according to the average number of wins over the last four or five seasons, which would probably put us somewhere in the mid 30s, meaning borderline lottery pick. I could be mistaken. Not sure why I'm thinking that.

 

[TheISHT]

I think it's actual an entire lottery based on the year prior but all teams will be eligible with the stronger teams having a vary small chanceof getting a top 3 pick. Lakers or Heat would probably get the #1 pick with .000001% chance. I don't think they look at records from 5 years.