Jared Sullinger: Ohio State Star Lottery Bound Despite Lack of Athleticism

Ohio State big man Jared Sullinger has his fair share of physical shortcomings, but that won't stop some offensively starved team from selecting him in the lottery of the 2012 NBA draft.

Sullinger's struggles against long and athletic big men—you know, like the kind that play in the NBA—are no secret. He also didn't help himself by going 5-of-19 against Jeff Withey and Kansas in his final collegiate game.

A likely top-five pick in 2011, Sullinger's stock has slipped because of his height (6'9"), weight (280 pounds), poor conditioning and nonexistent vertical jump. In the modern game, he's not athletic enough to play the 4, not tall enough to play the 5. And that dreaded "tweener" label is one of the worst things you can have on your scouting report.

That said, Sullinger does do some things exceptionally well.

He's a natural and fluid scorer with a vast arsenal of positives. He's got soft hands and a smooth jumper. He's a master at the underrated arts of positioning and footwork. He consistently produced at a high level in college. And he's even been chilling with Erin Andrews lately, so he earns some major props there.

"

#shoutout to @ErinAndrews just because we sat down and talked basketball for 15mins and she taught me something new. Lol

— Jared Sullinger (@Jared_Sully0) June 2, 2012"

So yeah, maybe Sullinger will get murdered on defense. Maybe he'll get dunked on regularly and he'll struggle against long, athletic bigs like Carlos Boozer does.

But the kid still has one hell of a skill set, and although physical gifts may not be immediately apparent, he's still capable of being an impact player in the league.

He may never be an All-Star, but Jared Sullinger will be somebody's 2012 lottery pick.