Written by Demetri Inembolidis

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If there is one decision that Jared Sullinger would probably like to take a mulligan on, it would be to not declare the draft in 2011.  Sullinger was a consistent high pick in every single mock draft and he chose to stay in Columbus presumably because of the looming lockout and to work on his game under Thad Matta.  Instead of being a high pick with one year under his belt, Sullinger's stock is falling quicker than the shares in Facebook.

According to Andy Katz of ESPN, Sullinger's career hit a new low when he was not invited to attend the draft.  Invitations are typically given to players who are likely to be selected in the top 15.  The cause for concern over Sullinger is the medical red flag that he received in connection with his back.  Sullinger suffered from back spasms for part of the Buckeyes' season.

Being drafted high is almost always better than slipping past the lottery, but this could be a blessing in disguise for the ex-OSU power forward.  He could slip to a team that is a playoff contender instead of ending up in a place with shoddy management and coaching.  The biggest factor in this turning out well for him is health.  Where he ends up is a moot point if his back is as bad as people think and it affects his ability to play in the NBA.

It is highly unlikely that the Cavs will draft Sullinger.  There simply is not a lot of smoke in regards to the prospect of Sullinger being selected by the Cavs.  In addition, he does not fill a position of need for Cleveland since they currently have Tristan Thompson and Anderson Varejao on the roster. 

Sullinger's health issues should be a warning sign for every NCAA freshman who considers staying for a second year or declaring for the draft.  There are benefits to staying in college, but the average NBA career is only a little over six years.  For athletes like Sullinger, these decisions can have a long-lasting affect that will linger for the rest of their lives.