The man has style.As if playing in your home town wasn't enough pressure, how is playing in you future home arena against some of your best peers? Oh yeah, and you were just released from the hospital a few hours ago. It sounds like a tall order, but Columbus Northland C Jared Sullinger did just that while also garnering MVP honors in the McDonald's High School All-American game.
After being hospitalized earlier in the day for dehydration, Sullinger was released hours before the game amid swirling rumors that the main attraction of the top high school basketball showcase might not play. But, apparently, nothing was keeping the Ohio State signee off the court.
“I don’t know what got into me,” he said after the game. “I just got so excited.”
Sullinger finished with 22 points and seven rebounds as he led all scorers despite the West knocking off the East squad 107-104. Fort Wayne (Ind.) Bishop Luers forward DeShaun Thomas chipped in 11 for the East as the only other Buckeye signee, though he definitely had some rough spurts in the game (including getting blocked a couple of times).
Sullinger and Thomas are both looking forward to getting things going for the Buckeyes, but know that there is more work to be done. Both need to retake the ACT. Sullinger did not mention a specific goal, however, Thomas needs to improve his score one point to 17.
After recovering from what is being called food-poisoning, Sullinger delivered a star performance after being injected with an IV at the hospital. One would have had no idea watching him dominate this game, giving the home crowd "ooh" and "ah" moments, especially after he teamed with Thomas to provide the last seven points of the game for the East squad.
For a guy his size, he has soft hands and amazing footwork. Further, he can run the court and appears to enjoy triggering the break after snatching a rebound and looking up court.
ESPN had the following to say about his performance:
No one has ever doubted Sullinger's skills. He has the best hands, feet and feel for the game of any player in this class and it's not even close. At the college level, he has a chance to be an All-American from Day 1 at Ohio State. He's not a great athlete but that's the only thing that's missing from his package. People fixate on Sullinger's marginal athletic ability, but they shouldn't. Most coaches would rather have a guy who can play than an athlete who is still developing.
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Comments
Crummy game to watch except for Sully's performance. Typical all-star game.....me me me.
I thought Sullinger played well. He is huge and I wouldn't be surprised to see him playing along side Dallas next year. I think Dallas has a but more defense in him right now. Thomas can create his own shot, but I wouldn't be surprised to see him as the 6th man next year.
It was a typical All Star game, but what blew my mind was the fact that 7 of the 24 players were undecided on which college they were going to.
thomas is honestly struggling to get a 17 on the ACT? really? please, please tell me this is a typo. if you can't get a 17 you may be legally retarded. i don't know what makes this worse... the fact that he can only get a 16 or the fact that he admitted it. 20 should be the bare minimum... and i mean bare.
yup, never understood how so many of these athletes can't get that minimum of 17. Didn't someone last year (maybe carlos hyde) have like a 12 or 13?
I believe the average is 19 or something, I think we forget that these kids are handed their grades a lot of the time in High School, and don't ever really have to learn how to take tests without help.
So, if we played Sullinger along side Swaterdale, we'd have Buford and Lighty as locks to start at SG. Would this mean Aaron Craft would start as a freshman?-- as he will be the only "real" ball handler on the squad.
I'm not so sure Diebler would like coming off the bench, and I think it might cause problems with getting his 3-stroke in rhythm. I see Swaterdale and Sully swapping out for one another as more benificial than both playing at the same time.
Sullinger looks more baked than Jamaal Berry did in his mugshot......
Ha. Very true. I know I'd have to be baked to wear that outfit, Buckeye or not. Thankfully, Sullinger appears to be about a million times more durable than Berry.
I think Buford, Lighty and Diebler would be on the floor together with Sully and Dallas in that scenario unless the opponent had a crazy PG defender or pressed insanely. Most teams don't really press that much anymore so I wouldn't stress over not having a true PG. Plus, the returnees have proven they like to share the ball. It all depends on matchups. If the opponent has a big frontline like Tennessee did, Thad may want to go with Dallas and Sully together for extended minutes but against more perimeter oriented teams he may go small and insert a Craft or Thomas for large stretches. I'm excited to see how Thad pieces the team together next year. We'll finally be able to have meaningful debate on substition patterns/decisions.
blame the system all you want... getting under a 20 is unacceptable if you've had any schooling past 8th grade of any kind. anything less you're just dumb and definitely undeserving of a scholarship. too many kids bust their ass in the classroom and get denied for someone w/ a 16 be given 4-5 years worth of free schooling at this institution.
I had a friend that could barely read/write and he got a 26. now he's a police officer.
I dig his sweater.
yeah, he gets his fashion tips from jim tressel. hee-hee!!!
For those of you that think Matta will put Diebler on the bench I think you are sorely mistaken. I don't think there is a chance he will bench what will be a three year starting senior for a freshman. I have seen Craft play many times and I just don't see him helping much as a freshman. He will be very good as a senior but you have to realize he has not consistantly played against high levels of competition. I know he plays with the big boys in AAU but it is different in college.
He loves wearing the sweaters and so forth.
DO WANT Turner back to make starting 5 as Sully, Lighty, Buford, Turner, Diebler/Lauderdale.