Freshman forward Jared Sullinger will return to Ohio State for his sophomore season.
Sitting in the Ohio State locker room following the top-seeded Buckeyes’ 62-60 loss to Kentucky in the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament, the freshman said he would not be entering his name for the NBA draft and would return for his sophomore season.
“I’m going to be an Ohio State Buckeye next year,” he said. “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.”
“I’m a man of my word,” Sullinger added. “I don’t change my word and no one changes it for me. This is what I want.”
Sullinger said he made the decision following the game, but coach Thad Matta said it’s the message Sullinger has been sending to him all season.
“Oh he’s been telling me that all along,” Matta said. “And I believe it. He told me, draw me up a contract, whatever you need to do. I believe him when he says it.”
Sullinger, who averaged 17.1 points and 10 rebounds, was the Big Ten freshman of the year. Many scouts had him projected as a Top 5 pick in June’s NBA draft.
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