Jared Sullinger: Changes Ohio State Big Man Must Make to Become NBA Star

Jared Sullinger was an impactful collegiate player at Ohio State, but the NBA is a different animal.

No longer will he be able to body defenders in the post and use simple drop steps that lead to easy finishes at the rim.

He can't fall back on his 6'9,'' 265-pound frame to aggressively overpower the majority of opposing power forwards and centers anymore.

Let's look at a few areas of Sullinger's game and body that need to be improved upon if he wants to live up to what will most likely be a selection near the top of the first round in the 2012 NBA Draft.

Weight and Conditioning

Sullinger was considerably more fit in his sophomore season than he was in 2010 for the Buckeyes, but he's got to manage his weight better in the NBA. 

His natural strength is an asset and he can use his bulk to his advantage at the pro level, but must reduce his body fat to become as quick as possible. 

It'll allow him to move down the floor more crisply, and his value will be increased if he can get easy transition baskets by trailing guards on fastbreaks.

Cutting another five or 10 pounds would get him in that 255-260 pound range, which would be ideal for him as an NBA player. 

Jump shot

Many have compared Sullinger to former Pittsburgh Panthers great and current San Antonio Spurs role player DeJuan Blair. 

Even so, Blair averages only 9.5 points and 5.5 rebounds during the 2011 regular season.

While their games are similar, Blair was a late second-round selection who has exceeded expectations with those numbers.

Sullinger must live up to where he's drafted, and that means he'll have become a more versatile forward who can step out and consistently knock down the 12-15 footer. 

He can hit the shot now, but he needs to be more comfortable with it next season and beyond. 

He won't be able to solely score from under the rim because he'll be up against bigger, longer and more explosive forwards in the NBA so developing consistency will be key.

Defense 

Because Sullinger is limited to the paint, he'll have a tough time stepping out and guarding the new breed of hybrid No. 4's that can hit shots from the perimeter. Weight loss will benefit him greatly, as he'll be able to slide his feet at a more rapid pace on the defensive end. 

He's not a dynamic athlete with incredible hops so Sullinger will have to be heady and technical defender who wins with positioning and anticipation.

It'll be a tough challenge for Sullinger, but he demonstrated a good work ethic during his tenure at Ohio State. 

If he makes those alterations to his game and his body, Sullinger has the intrinsic basketball ability to be a fine forward in the league. If he doesn't, he'll struggle mightily. 

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