Colin Becht
CSNBayArea.com
Potential NBA draft lottery pick Jared Sullinger has beenmedically flagged by NBA doctors, according to a report by ESPN.com.Sullinger, who averaged 17.5 points and 9.2 rebounds pergame during his sophomore season at Ohio State, has back problemsthat NBA team doctors fear could shorten his career.Related: Warrior workouts: Jared SullingerSullinger worked out for the Warriors on Thursday, andWarriors Insider Matt Steinmetz projected that Golden State would select the six-foot,nine-inch forward with the seventh overall pick in the NBA draft.RELATED: Matt Steinmetz NBA mock draft 2.0Now Sullingers draft stock is likely to tumble because ofthe medical red flag. The report noted that some team doctors have advisedtheir organizations to not draft Sullinger in the first round.
Sullingers father said the two-time AP All-American had a bulging area that was due to hishamstring and quads being so tight but that it wasnt serious.It pulled on his hip flexor and he's been taking care of itto loosen it, Satch Sullinger said to Katz. You can call it a red flag if youwant. But it's tight hamstring and tight quads. He's been to doctors, he'sdoing yoga and deep tissue massage. The flexibility is helping take thepressure off the area.
Sullinger missed two games for Ohio Statein December due to back spasms but averaged 30.4 minutes per game last season.He dropped nearly 30 pounds before the season to help him move better.Former Pittsburghforward DeJuan Blair was medically flagged prior to the 2009 NBA Draft whenmedical tests at the NBA combine showed he didnt have ACLs in his knees. Thatrevelation caused Blair to fall from a projected lottery pick to the secondround.
Colin Becht is an intern with CSNBayArea.com and a senior at Northwestern University
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