'10 OH PF Jared Sullinger has signed his LOI!!!

[MaxBuck]

The characterization of Jared Sullinger as a "small forward" in the title of this thread is increasingly ridiculous.

[OState29]

Originally Posted by MaxBuck

The characterization of Jared Sullinger as a "small forward" in the title of this thread is increasingly ridiculous.

I tried to point this out earlier. Maybe you have more pull than me, we shall see.

[MaxBuck]

Originally Posted by OState29

Maybe you have more pull than me...

[Buckskin86]

Originally Published: July 6, 2009
Sullinger shows well on Day 1
By Reggie Rankin
Scouts Inc.

AKRON, Ohio -- About 80 of the nation's top high school basketball players are on display at the University of Akron's James A. Rhodes Arena this week for the LeBron James U.S. Skills Academy. The coaching staff is energetic, and has set the tone with intense drill work in all facets of the game. The players are learning the fundamentals of ball handling, passing, shooting, scoring moves off the dribble, coming off screens and the footwork that will help them take their games to the next level. Team offense was a primary emphasis, and the coaches made it a point to show the players how to move without the ball and help them understand the importance of floor spacing. There was limited live action on Day 1 Sunday, but during the short scrimmage at the end of the session, 6-foot-8 power forward Jared Sullinger (Columbus, Ohio/Northland) made his presence felt with his rebounding and finishing around the basket. Not to be outdone, Guo Ailun (Liaoning Panoan club team), a point guard from China, was impressive with his ballhandling and ability to pass.



Les Bentley for ESPN.com
Jared Sullinger should be an instant impact freshman at Ohio State.


Standout player

Sullinger went right to work, rebounding on both ends of the court with strength and power. If there is a better area rebounder in the Class of 2010, I have not seen him yet. Sullinger moves opponents out of the way with his big body, and snatches the ball with two hands as he clears out all incoming traffic in the lane. The Ohio State commit also is effective in the post. Sullinger spreads out in the post by getting low and wide, giving the passer a target to get the ball inside. He does a great job sealing his man with at least one foot in the paint. Sullinger is terrific at maintaining contact before making his scoring move. He loves to bang the defender with his body to get looks at the basket and improve his shooting percentage. He can score through contact, after getting deep in the lane, with a power drop step or jump hook over his left shoulder. Sullinger also passes well out of the post after drawing the double-team. He kicks out to open shooters, and hits players cutting through the lane. Sullinger seems to be more explosive than in the past; he took drop-off passes created by guard penetration and finished above the rim with ease. The big man was impressive in the short period of time he had to show off.

Ohio native Jared Sullinger made a big impact during the first day of action at the LeBron James Nike Skills Academy - ESPN

[Buckskin86]

James' skills camp just the latest stop in a busy hoops summer for OSU recruit Jared Sullinger
by Elton Alexander/Plain Dealer Reporter
Tuesday July 07, 2009


Andrea Kjerrumgaard/Columbus Dispatch
OSU basketball recruit Jared Sullinger (34) has been losing weight and working on his game in preparation of joining the Buckeyes.

AKRON, Ohio -- To say Jared Sullinger is having a busy summer is an understatement.

The 6-9, 255-pound Ohio State verbal commit for 2010 is traveling far and wide to become a better basketball player. That includes a stop at the LeBron James Skills Academy that will wrap up in Akron's Rhodes Arena on Wednesday morning.

"This is the busiest summer I have ever had," said the consensus Top 4 recruit on all the national hoops web sites; rivals.com (No. 3), Scout.com (No. 4) and ESPN.com (No. 4).

The native of Columbus had to stop and think of all the places he has been so far for basketball camps and tournaments, and all the places he still has to go.

"I've been to France, Virginia, Phoenix and Akron already," he said. "I'll be going to Orlando, Augusta Ga., Myrtle Beach, Dallas and New York by the end of the summer."


The main focus this summer is getting Sullinger's weight down. "I've already lost 25 pounds," he said. "I'm on a special diet and I'm down to 255. Between now and when I get to Ohio State I hope to get down to 240."

No other OSU recruits are at the camp, but one big Buckeyes target is 6-11 Adreian Payne from Dayton. The spindly center had his troubles around the rim in scrimmages, but he was surprisingly good defending on the perimeter.

"I'm trying to drag him to Ohio State, too," Sullinger said

James' skills camp just the latest stop in a busy hoops summer for OSU recruit Jared Sullinger - Ohio State Buckeyes Football & Basketball News - cleveland.com

[buckeydoptimist]

Outstanding news! For one, Sully needed to lose the baby fat as it was not helping and I tend to think it was holding his game back some. Secondly, he's been saying for months that he hadn't been pressuring Payne YET, but when the time came HE WOULD - as would Sibert. Sounds like the time is NOW and it could be a race between Payne and Spoon for that 6th ship. I think Payne fills our biggest need better and has more upside than Spoon. So I hope Sully can win him over!

Originally Posted by Buckskin86

James' skills camp just the latest stop in a busy hoops summer for OSU recruit Jared Sullinger - Ohio State Buckeyes Football & Basketball News - cleveland.com

[BuckTwenty]

ESPN/Scout (free) -- "Sullinger, Jones Among All-Star Picks"

7/10/09

Sullinger made the writer's 1st team for his performance at LeBron James' All Star camps (King City Classic & Nike Skills Academy).

PF/C: Jared Sullinger PF/C (6-9, 270)
School: 2010, Columbus, Ohio/Northland -- committed to Ohio State
Breakdown: A load to handle in the low post and on the glass, Sullinger is the best area rebounder in the 2010 class. He scores in the post through contact with a variety of moves. If the defender allows him to maintain contact, he's going to score or get fouled. Sullinger plays with heart and has the ability to face and attack off the dribble or hit the open jumper with time and space. Body maintenance and conditioning are the keys to Sullinger's becoming a great player.

Can NOT wait to see this kid take the court in S&G...

[osugrad21]

CBSSportsline

Sullinger another big man to build around for Ohio State

July 13, 2009
By Gary Parrish
CBSSports.com Senior Writer

NORTH AUGUSTA, S.C. -- I have seen the future of Ohio State basketball.
He is big.
He is strong.
And, my God, he just took a rare charge in a summer basketball game!
Jared Sullinger is big enough to thrive in college, but might not be big enough to garner NBA attention just yet. (Provided to CBSSports.com) "It's a smart play," Jared Sullinger later explained after another dominant effort here at the Nike Peach Jam. "It creates a turnover and a foul."
Preach on, young man.
"It creates a mental thing for the offensive player," Sullinger added. "If you take a charge early in a game, it messes up the offensive player because he doesn't want to pick up another foul. It changes the way he plays because he knows getting called for another charge will make him look silly."
Truth is, there are lots of ways for Jared Sullinger to make opponents look silly.
Taking a charge is merely one of them.
Sullinger is a 6-foot-9 (probably closer to 6-7, long as we're being honest), 262-pound center who makes up for what he lacks in athleticism and height with strength, skill and intelligence (See: Sullinger's theory on the art of taking charges). In other words, the consensus top five prospect from the Class of 2010 is a big-bodied, true post presence who should dominate the college game from the moment he enrolls at Ohio State, where he verbally committed more than two years ago.
So yeah, OSU has another elite big man on the way.
The pipeline will continue.

Cont...

[bucknut11]

Some less stellar reports on Jared's game. Props to www.elevenwarriors.com for the find.

If Sullinger is the best big man in the class, then this is not a great class. Sullinger has committed to Ohio State, and Buckeye fans need not worry about his following Greg Oden and B.J. Mullens to the NBA after one year. That said, I do expect Sullinger to be able to start from Day One and be an effective scorer and rebounder down low.

Seth Davis, SI

Sullinger is an undersized (overweight) power player who will have trouble with anyone with length and athleticism. He uses his huge body to his advantage around the basket, but will have trouble at the next level

NBADraft.net

[akronbuck]

Just my thoughts but , he sounds like a shorter Danny Manning type of player.

[MaxBuck]

Originally Posted by bucknut11

Some less stellar reports on Jared's game.
Seth Davis, SI

I don't think Davis was so much criticizing Jared as he was making the point that the '10 class is pretty weak when compared to some other recent classes. And it's hard to argue. There is no Greg Oden, no Kevin Durant, no Derrick Rose in this class. Certainly no LeBron James!

With respect to his likely having trouble with longer, "more athletic" big men, that was pretty much what everyone said about DeJuan Blair every time he came up against such an athletic big man -- that Blair proceeded to school, every time. If, in Jared, we have a player who approaches Blair's productivity, I'll be a very happy Buckeye.

[brodybuck21]

Originally Posted by MaxBuck

I don't think Davis was so much criticizing Jared as he was making the point that the '10 class is pretty weak when compared to some other recent classes. And it's hard to argue. There is no Greg Oden, no Kevin Durant, no Derrick Rose in this class. Certainly no LeBron James!

With respect to his likely having trouble with longer, "more athletic" big men, that was pretty much what everyone said about DeJuan Blair every time he came up against such an athletic big man -- that Blair proceeded to school, every time. If, in Jared, we have a player who approaches Blair's productivity, I'll be a very happy Buckeye.

Great post and I thought I had read where every time Jared has gone against more athletic big men he has handled himself nicely.

[CityLeagueHoops]

Highlights from Jared's Junior season at Northland.

YouTube - Jared Sullinger 2009 Highlights - Top...

[CityLeagueHoops]

Jared came at halftime after a two hour workout and played really well in his first game of the Upper Arlington (formerly the Worthington League) Summer League.

YouTube - Jared Sullinger 2009 Upper Arlington...

[brodybuck21]

Originally Posted by CityLeagueHoops

Jared came at halftime after a two hour workout and played really well in his first game of the Upper Arlington (formerly the Worthington League) Summer League.

YouTube - Jared Sullinger 2009 Upper Arlington Summer League

nice vid and thanx for posting. Noticed Chris Quinn was on Jared's team.