Jared Sullinger Medically Red Flagged By NBA Doctors

Oh boy. After undergoing a series of medical tests at the NBA Draft combine last week in Chicago, Ohio State Buckeyes forward Jared Sullinger has been medically red flagged by NBA doctors, due to an ailing back that some believe could potentially shorten his NBA career. ESPN’s Chad Ford has the details: “Some have advised their teams not to draft him in the first round. Sullinger’s agent, David Falk, when reached via phone by ESPN.com said that he was not in a position to comment on the story. Sullinger’s father, Satch Sullinger, said he believes the issue isn’t that serious. ‘He had a bulging area that was due to his hamstring and quads being so tight,’ Satch Sullinger told ESPN.com senior college basketball writer Andy Katz in a phone call Monday afternoon. ‘It pulled on his hip flexor and he’s been taking care of it to loosen it. You can call it a red flag if you want. But it’s tight hamstring and tight quads. He’s been to doctors, he’s doing yoga and deep tissue massage. The flexibility is helping take the pressure off the area. We’ve got nothing to hide. At this stage it’s all about what they can’t do. Jared is a skilled player. A two-time All-American. He can play.’ Ohio State coach Thad Matta told Katz by text message Monday: ‘Jared is fine. He’s moving better than I’ve ever seen him move.’ In 2009, Pittsburgh’s DeJuan Blair was also red flagged by the NBA when medical tests at the NBA combine revealed he didn’t have ACL’s in either knee. At the time Blair was projected as a late lottery pick. He slid all the way out of the first round.”