With the World University Games complete, Turner goes from role player to The Man once again.I must admit, I had visions of Evan Turner stealing the show for the Americans at the recently completed World University Games but it just wasn't meant to be as Turner was reduced to a role playing contributor on a team that was forced to settle for Bronze.
A chance for Gold went out the window with a 69-68 loss to Russia in the semifinals that saw Team USA outscored 20-9 in the 4th quarter after beginning the final quarter with a 59-49 lead. Turner was a ghost in the loss tallying just one point, one assist and three fouls in 12 minutes of action.
Turner and the Americans bounced back in the Bronze medal tilt versus Israel posting a 91-80 victory against the same team that beat Russia by 25 earlier in the tourney. The Villian was one of four Americans in double figures with 10 points (5/6 FG), three boards and three dimes in a team leading 24 minutes.
Even with double digit points in the tournament finale, Turner still posted a team low of 4.0 ppg in the third lowest minutes per game (16.3) while leading the team with 18 assists. While one could argue the silver lining is ET didn't rack up minutes thus keeping him fresh for his real season, he's not a 10 year NBA vet and would've been playing pick up games every day in Columbus anyway. As a result, I'm forced to wonder if he wouldn't have been better off working on the main aspects of his game he intended to polish here in Columbus.
Sure, there's still plenty of time to do just that but it's still hard to overlook he lost nearly a month to shoot 200 threes a day and log extended minutes working on ball handling and decision making in scrimmage situations. Turner shot exactly one three in seven World University Games. Again, not the end of the world. I'm just sayin'...
Meanwhile in New Zealand, Zisis Sarikopoulos overcame his recent knee sprain to log 11 minutes in Greece's loss to Team USA in the gold medal game of the FIBA under-19 world championships. Zisis notched only two points and two boards but the real news is that he was healthy enough to play and will be 100% when he returns to Columbus leading up the OSU's exhibition games in Canada at the end of August. I have a feeling Matta's going to need some of his fouls this season against more physical B10 foes with only Lauderdale and Madsen locking down the pivot and Lighty logging heavy minutes at the four spot with Kecman being more of a face up wing.
Back in the states, Jared Sullinger has gotten some bad reviews at the Nike Peach Jam. CNNSI's Seth Davis didn't exactly torch Sullinger but his thoughts are certainly in stark contrast with what Reggie Rankin had to say last week at the Lebron Skills Academy. Davis offers:
"There's nothing wiry about this guy. But my reaction to Sullinger is similar to one I had with Harrison Barnes: 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."
The folks at nbadraft.net offered a more direct assessment and I don't like what I read:
"On the flip side, their were others who failed to match their press clippings. The much anticipated match up between Jared Sullinger and Joshua Smith never materialized. Both guys were taken out early and never got into a rhythm. 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, similar to the struggles that Samardo Samuels experienced this year at Louisville."
Trying to spin this positively, I take solace in the fact Sullinger has indicated he's already lost 25 pounds and plans to lose more in prep for Matta's offense. Plus, I've seen many more positive reviews compared to very few poor assessments of Sullinger's ability and how it projects to the college game.
Comments
I was not that impressed with Sullinger after watching him at the state tourney this year. I thought he was very slow and unathletic. Hopefully he will prove me wrong.
One tourney does not a player make.
It's easy to judge these guys from game to game, tournament to tournament. Some guys even have an entire senior year that is subpar, and they go on to great things at the college level.
Sullinger will be fine for the Bucs.
Apparently he has lost 20 pounds since then and hopes to lose 20 more.
As much as I try to practice what I preach, I am a football-junkie who is at the end of my rope for a fix. I want to talk bball, but the pigskin keeps calling me like the glass pipe called Pookie.
Thank god for the release of College Football '10!!!
Sorry LBJ, but I can't take you seriously for typing 'Bucs'. I hope it was just a typo, but we are BUCKEYES, and not Bucaneers! We are the BUCKS.
Sorry to go off on you, but everytime I see that, I cringe, and I see it more than I want....
Remember Lenny Cook? Didn't think so. A few years back he was the next big thing before Amare Stoudemire destroyed him in a summer camp. Dude went undrafted and plays overseas. Not saying that'll happen but you never know...
First of all, Seth Davis was sleeping in SC if he gave Jared Sullinger a 'lukewarm' review. Every scouting service there and every coach I've spoken with lauded Big Sully's performance. HoopScoopOnline ranked him the Top Senior at the Peach Jam and forecast him as the #1 - 2010 when their new rankings come out. What was Davis watching!?? I knew Lenny Cook and I know JaredSullinger, there is no comparison, no how, no way, No Sir! Jared's character alone puts to rest any comparison with Lenny (Cook turned 19 years old as a Jr in HS back in NJ).
So, Chris (author of this piece) please due some investigative journalism and ask some credible people who actually attended the Peach Jam. By the way, Jared's team won the tournament and Jared was a beast in the Championship game I hope to see you write a 'follow-up' and set the record straight..
Thanks,
Sullinger leads All-Ohio at Peach Jam
By Paul Biancardi
Scouts Inc.
NORTH AUGUSTA, S.C. -- All-Ohio Red captured the Nike Peach Jam U-17 championship by defeating Team Final 62-53 after trailing at halftime. Power forward Jared Sullinger (Columbus Ohio/Northland; committed to Ohio State) scored 15 of his 19 points in the second half and pulled down 21 rebounds as All-Ohio scored 38 second-half points.
We at ESPN have attended all of the major events in the spring and summer thus far and would be hard pressed to find a team event that has more talent under one roof than the Nike Peach Jam.
Jared Sullinger could be the nation's top low-post scorer.
Standout player Of the Tournament
Jared Sullinger (Columbus, Ohio/Northland; committed to Ohio State) -- Sullinger simply wears down opposing post players with his size, strength and physical play. He is a terrific rebounder who seems to get all balls that come off the rim within his reach on both ends. He also has a great feel in the post. He is tremendous at maintaining or seeking out contact while the ball is in the air in order to seal his defender in the lane. He scored with jump hooks and power drop-steps through contact. He has very good, but not great, athletic ability, which allows very athletic players to block his shot sometimes. This doesn't bother Sullinger at all; he continues to take the ball back at the defender. In most cases it results in a putback basket or an and-1. Sullinger has great anticipation of where his misses are coming off and follows his own shot on a regular basis. He plays with a killer instinct and changes the game with his ability to dominate in the low post.