BuckeyeGrove.com - Mullens opts for the NBA Draft

March 26, 2009

Kevin Noon
Managing Editor

It's one-and-done for Ohio State freshman center B.J. Mullens after the 7-footer declared for the NBA draft via a statement on Thursday afternoon. Mullens was rated as the No. 1 prospect in the class of 2008 by Rivals.com and while the Canal Winchester (Ohio) product remained very raw during his first season of collegiate play there was little doubt that you can't teach size when it comes to a NBA prospect.

"After long consideration I have decided to enter my name in the 2009 NBA Draft," Mullens said via a press release. "This was not an easy choice because I love The Ohio State University but many positive reasons for moving on outweigh the many good reasons for staying."

Mullens came off the bench for the majority of the season and was named the Big Ten "Sixth-Man" of the year with his average of 8.8 points per game and 4.7 rebounds a contest. Mullens also shot a blistering 64-percent from the field which set an Ohio State record for freshman accuracy.

"I would like to thank The Ohio State University, its faculty and staff, along with Coach (Thad) Matta for the opportunity to attend school and play basketball here," Mullens added.

Losing players to the NBA draft is not something new to Ohio State head coach Thad Matta who has seen early departures from the likes of Greg Oden, Michael Conley Jr., Daequan Cook and Kosta Koufos over the past three seasons.

"I am saddened to lose B.J.," Matta said. "On one hand, I feel another year in school would have allowed him to develop into the player I know he can be and an additional season would have been beneficial to him both personally and monetarily in the long run."

Matta said after the Buckeyes' loss to Siena in the NCAA Tournament that he would sit down with each of his potential NBA departures and weigh the pros and cons with them before they would make any sort of decision.

"I am empathetic to the reasons why he has chose to leave at such an early point of his career," Matta said. "I wish him nothing but the best and know he will always be a part of our basketball family at Ohio State."

Mullens had one double-double while at Ohio State in a loss at Northwestern and Mullens career high in scoring was 19 points against UNC-Asheville. Mullens did score in double figures in 16 games this past season including ten points in Ohio State's final game against Siena.

"I would also like to thank all my Buckeye coaches and teammates for their guidance and friendship, not only this season, but also in the time since 2004 when I first committed to play at OSU," Mullens said.

Ohio State will welcome in Alabama-Birmingham transfer Zisis Sarikopoulos next season. The 7-footer sat out the 2008-09 season per NCAA transfer rules.

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