Ohio State Basketball Preview: Freshman Jared Sullinger

Depending on how closely you follow Ohio State basketball, you may or may not be aware that the 2010-11 version of the squad will look drastically different from last year's Sweet 16 team.

Gone is arguably the most talented player from the team and the reigning National Player of the Year.

However, Thad Matta once again brought in one of the top recruiting classes in the country (No. 2 on ESPN), including four players in the ESPN Top 100 and two McDonald's All-Americans.

We have just a little over two months until the basketball season gets under way, and as the title of this post suggests, I would like to introduce the new members of the basketball Buckeyes to the general public.

Let us start with the figurative and literal biggest player coming to campus: Jared Sullinger.

If the name sounds familiar, that is a good sign. His older brother J.J. played for the Buckeyes way back in 2003-2006. Sullinger is a 6'8", 260-lb. interior force. He was named Ohio's Mr. Basketball (Matta has a tendency to get those to commit to Ohio State), averaging almost 20 points and 15 rebounds per game and winning the state basketball championship...as a junior.

All he did as a senior was average 24 and 12, repeat as Mr. Basketball, win the Naismith National Player of the Year, gain McDonald's All-American honors and lead Northland High School in Columbus to an undefeated regular season, beating the nation's No. 1 team along the way. For those craving highlights, enjoy.

It goes without saying that Jared Sullinger is immensely talented and will play an important role in determining how far Ohio State gets into the NCAA Tournament. But the thing that I like most about him is that he really wants to be a Buckeye. Sullinger verbally committed in 2007 (shortly after his brother's last game, a loss in the 2006 NCAAs to Georgetown).

With the NBA's one-and-done rule, college rosters have more turnover than ever, and as talented as Sullinger is, it won't be surprising if he leaves after his freshman season. Call me an idealist, but if his one year here actually means something to him, it can only drive him to be a better player.

We have seen happens when guys with loads of talent care about the team they play for (Greg Oden, Mike Conley, Jr.) and when guys maybe don't have the most talent on the floor but give the effort (Terence Dials, Jamar Butler). On the flip side, we have also witnessed what happens when guys with all the physical gifts simply don't care, and they are called Kosta Koufos and Byron Mullens.

Big surprise—I see Sullinger falling into the first category of players, and if he does, watch out rest of the Big Ten.

Sullinger can play either center or power forward, but I am going to save how he all the other freshmen fit in the rotation this year for another post, after they have all been properly introduced. Next up in the series will be Ohio State's second highest rated recruit, Deshaun Thomas. 

This article appears on Inside the Shoe