[NbanflguyParticipant]

NEWARK — 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.

[butidonthavemoney]

Good for him.

You don’t see that enough anymore.

[NbanflguyParticipant]

No not good for him. He needs to get out of the big ten!! haha Just playin, am a Gopher Fan.

[champTRiceParticipant]

The 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? 

[Lotto StudParticipant]

Kanter gets benefitted the most from this.

[Sasha4MVPParticipant]

I 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. 

[Lotto StudParticipant]

Sully gets more respect than LeBron for not leaving Ohio hanging. I give him much props for passing up on a Top 5 consideration.

[Rock_Cat78Participant]

Guys 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.

[ilike.panochasParticipant]

Next 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.

[jeff416Participant]

Even 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.

[joecheck88Participant]

I 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.

[The lake show2]

Why 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

[lalailaParticipant]

Monroe said it too.. 

[The lake show2]

yeah i remember Monroe saying it after his freshman year and then he came back

[OhCanada-Participant]

This 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.

[lalailaParticipant]

Monroe said it last year..after losing early in the tournament 

[thunderbear82Participant]

 This 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.

[Leftovers16Participant]

 if 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?

[goneParticipant]

So what if Barnes and Irving return? Would Cleveland pick Williams? Would he wear #23? Lol

[andxxxParticipant]

 This 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

[The lake show2]

I 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.

[The lake show2]

I 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

[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.

[Dale WorthingtonParticipant]

Heart.

Unparalleled heart.

[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…

[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…

 

 

[OnionsParticipant]

 IIRC, 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.

[butidonthavemoney]

This 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.

[The lake show2]

His father came out and said " etch it in stone he will be back"

[lalailaParticipant]

well…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? 

[HitsterParticipant]

I’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!

[The lake show2]

If 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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