Top 10 POY Candidates: #3: Sullinger Just Another Buckeye Freshmen Center

Ohio State is no stranger to the prized freshman center. Starting with Greg Oden, the team then had Kosta Koufos, followed by B.J. Mullens. Now the Buckeyes have another large presence in the post in the form of freshman phenom Jared Sullinger. And after having two monster games this season, it’s clear why he’s our No. 3 Player of the Year candidate. Sullinger was the crown jewel in a recruiting class widely considered among the two best in the country, a Columbus native whose older brother, J.J., also played for the Buckeyes. While not as tall as the centers that came before him (he stands at 6-9), Sullinger’s 270 pound frame make him as big and sturdy as Oden was in the post. His coming out party to the country came in just his second collegiate game, where he scored 26 points and grabbed ten rebounds during Ohio State’s 93-75 dismantling of No. 9 Florida on the road. Wrote CBS’ Gary Parrish: “Yes, there is an adjustment period for most freshmen, perhaps even 99 percent of them. B...