Jared Sullinger: Where Experts Predict Ohio State Star Will Land in NBA Draft

Jared Sullinger may have been one of college basketball's biggest stars over the last two years, but that doesn't mean NBA teams drafting in the lottery are enamored with his talent.

Sullinger was simply dominant in his first season at Ohio State, averaging a double-double with 17.2 points and 10.2 rebounds per game. In his sophomore season, things hit a bit of a snag as Sullinger was sidelined by a series of injuries. Although there was no significant drop in his numbers (17.6 points and just over nine rebounds) Sullinger's patented low-post moves were hindered by his bum foot.

After helping lead the Buckeyes to the Final Four, Ohio State fell to the Kansas Jayhawks in a thriller, ultimately leaving Sullinger's future up in the air. Weeks later, Sullinger declared for the draft and began the extremely scrupulous draft process, one that has seen his game picked apart from every angle.

Like virtually every other NBA draft prospect, Sullinger has seen his draft stock rise and fall, and his name has fallen into various slots in or out of the lottery depending on which mock draft you consult.

One thing that won't be helping Sullinger's stock is the report that he simply didn't test well at the NBA's draft combine earlier this month. According to SportsGrid.com, Sullinger failed to impress in a variety of ways, but the main concern remains his lack of speed:

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He was dead-last in lane agility, with the same time as the laterally-challenged Brook Lopez and JaVale McGee. He was also dead last in sprints. And despite all the talk about his overwhelming strength, his nine bench-press repetitions weren’t overly impressive.

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Sullinger has already worked out for a number of teams, including a couple who select in the lottery. Among the lottery teams taking a hard look at Sullinger are the Portland Trailblazers and the Golden State Warriors.

While the Blazers and Warriors are intriguing fits for the 6'9'' forward, both teams would appear to be in the market for shooters. The Warriors certainly appear set in the frontcourt with Andrew Bogut and David Lee, and have even been rumored to be shopping the No. 7 pick in hopes of acquiring a veteran small forward. The Blazers could be more willing to take a shot at Sullinger, as they currently hold picks No. 6 and 11 in the draft.

The folks at NBADraft.net currently have Sullinger being selected with the last pick in the lottery, No. 14 overall to the Houston Rockets. Although it would be hard for the Rockets to pass on Sullinger if he fell to the back end of the lottery, he doesn't fit an immediate need. The Rockets are replete with talent at power forward, with Luis Scola, Patrick Patterson and last year's draft pick, Marcus Morris.

Conversely, DraftExpress's latest mock (via Yahoo! Sports) has Sullinger going to the Warriors with the seventh pick. For now, Sullinger appears to be a filler at seven for the Warriors, as DraftExpress notes:

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Breaking the draft down into tiers, it's clear there are a few large drop-offs in value. One is between picks one and two. Another is right here. The player who is picked at seven could very well have been drafted at 17 under different circumstances.

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With names like John Henson, Tyler Zeller, Jared Sullinger, Perry Jones, Meyers Leonard and Arnett Moultrie, this year's NBA draft is replete with frontcourt talent. As DraftExpress noted, circumstance will dictate where many of these players are selected, so it's no lock that Sullinger will be picked in the top 10, much less the lottery.

One team to keep an eye on in the chase for Sullinger is the Philadelphia 76ers. With Elton Brand looking like he could be a victim of the amnesty clause, the Sixers will be extremely thin at power forward. Although a more athletic big like Perry Jones would seem to be a more logical fit for the Sixers' uptempo style of play, there's a big risk associated with picking Jones.

Sullinger is a stable big man with a competent mid-range jump shot and some developed post moves. A few years under the tutelage of head coach Doug Collins and Sullinger could become one of the league's rising stars at power forward. With that said, don't expect Sullinger to fall any further than pick No. 15 on June 28th.