Former Ohio State All-American forward Jared Sullinger will represent the Scarlet and Gray once again this summer, as he will compete for the Buckeyes’ The Basketball Tournament alumni team Carmen’s Crew.
Sullinger, 32, is set to play for Carmen’s Crew for the first time since 2018, when the Buckeye alumni team was known as “Team Scarlet and Gray.” Sullinger then became Carmen’s Crew’s head coach in 2019 — winning a TBT championship in his first season at the helm — and led the team for the past three tournaments.
It is unclear if Sullinger will serve as both a player and coach this year, but it was previously announced that the former Buckeye would share coaching duties with Columbus native Leon Rodgers, which could give him the opportunity to focus on playing while Rodgers mans the sidelines.
Sullinger’s return to the squad is a significant one, as the Columbus native is regarded as one of the best Buckeye ballers in modern program history.
Entering Ohio State in 2010 as the nation’s third-best prospect, Sullinger made an instant impact on his hometown team under head coach Thad Matta, averaging 17.2 points, 10.2 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.0 blocks per game in 37 games (36 starts) as a freshman. It was a loaded stat line that helped him earn a consensus All-American nod along with Big Ten Freshman of the Year and first-team all-conference honors.
Sullinger then returned to the program for a second year in 2011-12 and picked up right where he left off, notching 17.5 points, 9.2 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.1 blocks per game in another 37 games and 36 starts, while also shooting 51.9 percent from the field. These efforts earned him a second-straight consensus All-American and first-team All-Big Ten nod while also helping guide the Buckeyes to a 31-8 record and their most recent Final Four appearance, cementing himself as one of the better players in program history.
After a historic two-year run with the Buckeyes, Sullinger was drafted with the No. 21 overall pick in the first round of the 2012 NBA draft by the Boston Celtics. He played four seasons and started 172 of his 269 appearances with the franchise, averaging 11.1 points, 7.7 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game along with 43.9 percent shooting.
Despite the admirable stint with the Celtics, Sullinger’s NBA career was cut short in dissapointing fashion the following season when he appeared in just 11 games for the Toronto Raptors while battling a nagging foot injury. He was then traded to the Phoenix Suns on February 23, 2017, and waived the next day, putting an end to his career in the league.
Sullinger has since rebounded overseas, where he has spent the past seven years playing professional basketball in China, Korea and Puerto Rico. He has experienced major success in these leagues over the years, most notably winning International MVP of the Chinese Basketball Association this past season after averaging 21.8 points, 11.3 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per contests for the Shenzhen Leopards.
He has spent this summer playing for Cangrejeros de Santurce of the Puerto Rican league Baloncesto Superior Nacional, where he has impressed with 20.7 points, 15.1 rebounds and 2.9 assist per game.
Sullinger will now have the chance to show off his skills in the United States this summer on an Ohio State alumni team that includes four other former Buckeyes: forwards Andre and Kaleb Wesson (2016-20), forward Kyle Young (2017-22) and guard Keyshawn Woods (2018-19). The rest of the roster is mostly filled out with Ohio talent, including Gahanna native and former Glenville State and Fairmont State guard Jamel Morris, Pickerington native and former Boston College forward CJ Penha and Ashley, Ohio, native and former Bowling Green guard Scott Thomas.
Sullinger and Carmen’s Crew — who earned a No. 3 seed in the tournament — will begin their quest for the winner-take-all $1 million prize on July 20 when they take on No. 6 seed Purple Hearts in the Dayton Regional in the Flyers’ UD Arena. Tip off is set for 7 p.m. with the game airing live on Big Ten Network.
