Syracuse, Ohio State players who could be pros soon

By Gary Dzen

March 23, 2012

1 minute to read

By Gary Dzen, Globe Staff

Had the privilege of seeing Ohio State’s Jared Sullinger (above) in person for the first time last night, and the All-American was more than impressive. In what was supposed to be a difficult matchup with Cincinnati’s Yancy Gates, Sullinger dominated, scoring 23 points and adding 11 rebounds while holding Gates to 7 points and 5 rebounds. The most impressive thing about Sullinger was his ability to dominate the game in multiple aspects: defense, rebounding, scoring, and passing. He’s not as big as Gates and he’s bound to run into trouble against bigger defenders in the NBA, but Sullinger is ready for the league right now.

How does this relate to the Celtics? Sullinger is likely to be a late lottery pick, and the Celtics are unlikely to get a pick that high, though trades are always possible. But Sullinger isn’t the only member of the Buckeyes or Orange who could be a pro by the fall. Here’s a list of guys to watch if you’re going to the game Saturday or tuning in on TV. (Note: None of these players has declared for the NBA Draft or are guaranteed to come out after this season).

Sullinger: Forward, Ohio State: 6-feet-9-inches, 265 pounds. 17.6 points, 9.2 rebounds per game. Projected as a late lottery pick.

Dion Waiters: Guard, Syracuse: 6-feet-4-inches, 215 pounds. 12.7 points, 2.5 assists. Projected as a late first-round pick. Could play PG or SG in the NBA.

Kris Joseph: Forward, Syracuse: 6-feet-7-inches, 215 pounds. 13.5 points, 4.8 rebounds. Syracuse’s leading scorer projects as a late first-round pick. Could play SF in the NBA.

William Buford: Guard, Ohio State: 6-feet-5-inches, 190 pounds. 14.4 points, 2.7 assists per game. Projects as a late first or early second-round pick. Should play point guard in the NBA.

Fab Melo: Center, Syracuse: 7-feet, 255 pounds. Melo will not be playing in the game but is a big man who could be available late in the first round where the Celtics pick.