Jared Sullinger Returning to Ohio State

Jared Sullinger is returning to Ohio State next season, answering the question that would have come about the 2011 NBA Draft. Sullinger made the announcement following the Ohio State vs. Kentucky game on Friday night, and gave Buckeyes fans exactly what they wanted to hear after the game became a very tough pill to swallow.

ESPN reported Sullinger stated, "I'm going to be an Ohio State Buckeye next year. 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." Answering to the obvious question about whether he might change his mind, Sullinger stated, "I'm a man of my word. I don't change my word and no one changes it for me. This is what I want."

If we choose to believe him, then Sullinger will definitely make these Buckeyes a threat to return as Big Ten Conference champions in 2012. If he did end up changing his mind and declared himself eligible for the 2011 NBA Draft, he wouldn't be the first player to do something like that. The emotions were intense following the loss on Friday night, and it's hard not to feel bad for Sullinger and the outcome he experienced. It seems to have made him want to come back for more though, and maybe he really is dedicated to bringing that championship to OSU.

Sullinger was the player of this game, scoring 21 points and grabbing 16 rebounds for the Buckeyes, but it just wasn't enough to overcome the Wildcats. OSU fell 62-60 in a great Sweet 16 match, bringing an end to their run in the NCAA Tournament. Meanwhile Kentucky goes on to the Elite Eight after knocking off the third No. 1 seed in the tournament. It leaves Kansas as the only No. seed left, and they will play against No. 11 VCU in the Southwest regional final.

This has been a very odd NCAA Tournament, and now the top ranked team has been knocked off. It wasn't Sullinger's fault though, so it wouldn't have been surprising if he decided to state that he was heading to the NBA Draft already. That being said, we also shouldn't be surprised if he changes his mind about spending another year in school.

Sullinger could easily become an NBA lottery pick, especially after his performances in the tournament. He finished the season with an average of 17.2 points and 10.2 rebounds per game. Those are numbers that will get you a nice payday in the NBA, and it would be hard for any NBA prospect to pass up.

The 2011 NBA Draft is in June, so there is still time for Sullinger to change his mind and declare himself eligible for the draft.

References:

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