This topic contains 31 replies, has 20 voices, and was last updated by The lake show2 13 years, 1 month ago.
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- Posted on: Fri, 03/25/2011 - 7:42pm #27314
NbanflguyParticipantNEWARK — Here, then, Ohio State fans is your silver lining: Jared Sullinger says he is coming back.
Sitting in the Ohio State locker room following the top-seeded Buckeyes’ 62-60 loss to Kentucky, the freshman said he would not be entering his name for the NBA draft and would return for his sophomore season.
"I’m going to be an Ohio State Buckeye next year," he said. "This isn’t why I came here, to come in here and see my seniors in here crying. I came here to win a national championship."
Plenty of people make pledges in the rubble of an emotional loss only to change their mind later, when the sting and suddenness of the season fades and the promise of the NBA looms.
Sullinger, who had 21 points and 16 rebounds in his final game of the season, insists that won’t happen.
"I’m a man of my word," Sullinger said. "I don’t change my word and no one changes it for me. This is what I want."
Sullinger said he made the decision following the game, but coach Thad Matta said it’s the message Sullinger has been sending to him all season.
"Oh he’s been telling me that all along," Matta said. "And I believe it. He told me, draw me up a contract, whatever you need to do. I believe him when he says it."
Dana O’Neil is a senior writer for ESPN.com.
0 - Posted on: Fri, 03/25/2011 - 7:47pm #513831
butidonthavemoneyGood for him.
You don’t see that enough anymore.
0 - Posted on: Fri, 03/25/2011 - 7:51pm #513835
NbanflguyParticipantNo not good for him. He needs to get out of the big ten!! haha Just playin, am a Gopher Fan.
0 - Posted on: Fri, 03/25/2011 - 7:52pm #513836
champTRiceParticipantThe Buckeyes don’t have any 5 star recruits coming in. They have four 4 star players coming in though. Sullinger will lose some of his best teammates in Diebler and Lighty. Duke is loading up once again. Kentucky has the best recruiting class coming in. I know that Sullinger is pretty good but how will he win a championship at Ohio State next year if they couldn’t get it done this year?
0 - Posted on: Fri, 03/25/2011 - 7:57pm #513838
Lotto StudParticipantKanter gets benefitted the most from this.
0 - Posted on: Fri, 03/25/2011 - 8:13pm #513839
Sasha4MVPParticipantI don’t know how I feel about this.
On one hand this year’s draft is very weak and Sullinger will likely be a top 3 pick.
However, I can see how the impending lockout frightens Sullinger’s prospects of playing next year.
I respect his decision though. He proved that he wasn’t like the rest of the Ohio State highly recruited big men.
0 - Posted on: Fri, 03/25/2011 - 8:18pm #513840
Lotto StudParticipantSully gets more respect than LeBron for not leaving Ohio hanging. I give him much props for passing up on a Top 5 consideration.
0 - Posted on: Fri, 03/25/2011 - 8:50pm #513850
Rock_Cat78ParticipantGuys say this all the time after a tough season ending loss when the emotions are at their highest peak. Wait a few weeks and see if he still feels this way. With that said, IF he doesn’t change his mind and does come back, it’s nothing but a good thing for college hoops and is something you never really see these days.
0 - Posted on: Fri, 03/25/2011 - 9:04pm #513853
ilike.panochasParticipantNext year’s crop of PF is actually very weak, so his stock may stay the same if he comes out 2012. The only guy he has to compete with is Tristan Thompson next year.
0 - Posted on: Fri, 03/25/2011 - 9:23pm #513856
jeff416ParticipantEven though I don’t believe most people who say this, I believe him. He should go this year though, he could get injured or anything, take the money when you can.
But if he stays Ohio State is going to be very good next year, even though they lose a lot. They have a very good recruiting class coming in and some good players returning. I would pick them to win the Big 10, and they would probably be in my preseason top 5.
0 - Posted on: Sat, 03/26/2011 - 2:49am #513874
joecheck88ParticipantI want to believe him and I definately think there is a good chance he does stay but I am not buying it until the deadline for players to enter passes.
0 - Posted on: Sat, 03/26/2011 - 6:21am #513895
The lake show2Why do people say guys say this all the time after there loss int he tournament?.I only remember Johnny Flynn saying it then changing his mind. Maybe I’m forgetting so please remind me of all those guy’s who have said this, especially after saying they will be coming back the whole season.
As far as next year they should be pretty good. Laquinton Ross has All American talent but needs to be pushed
Aaron Craft will be another year better
Sullinger will be a player of the year candidate
Thomas should Blow up ala Jordan Hamilton
If you haven’t seen Shannon Scott play then you are in for a surprise.
Amir Williams is a very tough big man with bunnies hence why he is gonna be playing int he McDonald’s All American game this year
0 - Posted on: Sat, 03/26/2011 - 7:13am #513908
lalailaParticipantMonroe said it too..
0 - Posted on: Sat, 03/26/2011 - 7:23am #513909
The lake show2yeah i remember Monroe saying it after his freshman year and then he came back
0 - Posted on: Sat, 03/26/2011 - 7:25am #513910
OhCanada-ParticipantThis is so upsetting for any Raptors fans. Our chances of getting a top talent pick out of this draft just decreased, as Sullinger was likely to be a Top 5 pick. Now the team that wouldve picked Sullinger is likely to select Kanter or Jones.
0 - Posted on: Sat, 03/26/2011 - 8:04am #513921
lalailaParticipantMonroe said it last year..after losing early in the tournament
0 - Posted on: Sat, 03/26/2011 - 9:12am #513944
thunderbear82ParticipantThis is a hard one. I think if stays he will hurt his draft stock, it gives scouts another year to pick him apart. This time they’ll be a lot more critical. If he thinks he can dramatically Improve his stats I think it will be a good move. 18 and 10 is difficult to improve.
0 - Posted on: Sat, 03/26/2011 - 9:17am #513947
Leftovers16Participantif whoever gets the first pick calls him and tells him they will pick him first overall…
just throwing it out there if its a possibility i mean garenteed first overall who wouldnt?
0 - Posted on: Sat, 03/26/2011 - 10:06am #513956
goneParticipantSo what if Barnes and Irving return? Would Cleveland pick Williams? Would he wear #23? Lol
0 - Posted on: Sat, 03/26/2011 - 10:26am #513963
andxxxParticipantThis draft has potential to be so bad now I respect his decision, but if you can be a top 5 pick in a weak draft take the money while you can for him just the way Ohio state uses him I doubt his draft stock can get any higher
0 - Posted on: Sat, 03/26/2011 - 11:01am #513967
The lake show2I guess its only natural for humans to be skeptical. I remember when he said that but i also remember even his Coach wasn’t convinced when he said it.
0 - Posted on: Sat, 03/26/2011 - 11:04am #513968
The lake show2I don’t believe in the "this draft could be so bad" the same was said about the draft last year. Just because there’s no superstar " allegedly" doesn’t mean it will be a bad draft. What makes drafts good is depth not having one or two superstars. How many of these guys look like NBA starters?…alot right
0 - Posted on: Sat, 03/26/2011 - 11:27am #513975
Lotto StudParticipant"if whoever gets the first pick calls him and tells him they will pick him first overall…"
I believe this is against NCAA rules to have contact with NBA teams especially when you are still considered eligible.
0 - Posted on: Sat, 03/26/2011 - 11:33am #513976
Dale WorthingtonParticipantHeart.
Unparalleled heart.
0 - Posted on: Sat, 03/26/2011 - 12:01pm #513988
bennydabullParticipant"I’m a man of my word," Sullinger said. "I don’t change my word and no one changes it for me. This is what I want."
If he DOES change his mind…. I don’t know what to think of him…
0 - Posted on: Sat, 03/26/2011 - 9:29pm #514203
marcusfizer21Participant"This isn’t why I came here, to come in here and see my seniors in here crying. I came here to win a national championship."… He cares more about his team than anyhthing else right now… I hope he keeps his word… That’s a good motivation for him and the other guys to strive a little harder… NCAA tournament has never had any guarantees and I’m glad he’ll take one more shot at a championship…
0 - Posted on: Sat, 03/26/2011 - 9:45pm #514205
OnionsParticipantIIRC, Sean May said the same thing. That was after winning the National Championship!
I’ll believe it when I see it. I truly hope he does. It would be great for college basketball.
0 - Posted on: Sat, 03/26/2011 - 11:07pm #514213
butidonthavemoneyThis will be great for his stock if a team who’s looking to draft for character is near the top of the lottery. Players who have passion, loyalty AND top-5 talent don’t come along very often.
0 - Posted on: Sun, 03/27/2011 - 9:22am #514338
The lake show2His father came out and said " etch it in stone he will be back"
0 - Posted on: Sun, 03/27/2011 - 9:53am #514359
lalailaParticipantwell…if Harrison Williams Kyrie Perry declares are they so much worse than Miller,Davis,Gilchrist,Rivers? Maybe. But not that much…so i think Jared could show far more playmaking and shooting skills cause he is very skilled in those areas as such a big guy, plus keep improving post moves and rebounding and you can see a NPOY and still possible top3 or at least top5 pick..why not?
0 - Posted on: Sun, 03/27/2011 - 10:14am #514384
HitsterParticipantI’d suspect that Sullinger might have an eye on the lockout and also the emotion of defeat he’d want to stay loyal to his team. Certainly if a lockout was likely he’d be safer returning as even if he got drafted, he’d have to stay in shape etc and being listed at over 280lbs then he could probably end up easily around 300lbs if he was kicking his heals for a year.
If he does return then that’s good loyalty in this day and age, I can recall Roy Hibbert and Joakim Noah both returning for another year respectively and although their draft position fell both are now successful NBA starting C’s and Noah has a big contract extension in the bag.
Sullinger’s draft position should hold up fairly well as he’ll still be potentially the same beast he was this year so should go inside the top 10 whenever he declares.
As regards him being contacted by NBA teams, how would it be viewed if a GM said in an interview they would be interested in taking Sullinger. Not tapping up as such but putting the feelers out!
0 - Posted on: Sun, 03/27/2011 - 12:00pm #514460
The lake show2If they even mentioned his name they would get fined. against NBA rules to even mention the name of a college prospect that hasn’t put his name in the draft
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