Three Transfers, Billings Begin Ohio State Careers – Ohio State Buckeyes
9/26/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Sept. 26, 2002
COLUMBUS, Ohio-Jim O’Brien, Ohio State head men’s basketball coach, announced the addition of three transfer students to the Buckeyes’ roster Thursday. Another student-athlete, freshman Ricardo Billings, will sit out the 2002-03 season to concentrate on academics.
Tony Stockman, a 6-1 guard from Medina, Ohio, J.J. Sullinger, a 6-5 guard from Columbus, Ohio, and Emonte Jernigan, a 6-3 guard from Richmond, Calif., have transferred into the Ohio State men’s basketball program.
“First of all, I’m excited to have all three guys who transferred become a part of our program,” O’Brien said. “And I’m the most thrilled guy in Columbus knowing Ricardo Billings is here taking classes.”
Billings, a 6-3 guard from Rogers High School in Detroit, Mich., did not qualify academically to play as a freshman. He will sit out the 2002-03 season and will have three years of eligibility remaining with the Buckeyes.
“Ricardo has enrolled in classes and is here on campus,” O’Brien said. “He is a wonderful kid and we expect him to be a terrific player for us. He will have a difficult year with being unable to participate in any activities with the team. From day one he has been loyal to us and has wanted to come to Ohio State.”
Stockman left Clemson University after a two-year stint with the Tigers while Sullinger played one season at Arkansas before returning to his hometown to play for the Buckeyes. Jernigan, whose first name is pronounced e-MON-tee, began his career at Santa Rosa Junior College before signing with Oregon State for the 2000-01 season. He played one season at each school. He attended Contra Costa Junior College in 2001-02 but did not play basketball. He has two years of eligibility with the Buckeyes beginning with the 2002-03 season.
“In Emonte Jernigan, in view of Ricardo Billings’ situation, we could not have gotten a better guy at such a late date,” O’Brien said. “He is someone who has experienced success at a high level of play in the Pac 10. We think he will surprise some people with his abilities and perimeter shooting. He gives us a quality 3-point threat.”
O’Brien knows from the recruiting process what abilities Stockman and Sullinger bring to the Ohio State program.
“We were familiar with Tony Stockman when he was in high school,” O’Brien said. “We are pleased he decided to come back to Ohio. He is a guy who gives us flexibility with being able to play both backcourt positions. He is skilled with the dribble and has 3-point shooting abilities. He is another player who has had success at the college level while at Clemson.
“J.J. reminds me of Michael Redd,” O’Brien said. “He has the uncanny ability to get the ball to the basket. He is a slasher who excels as an offensive rebounder. J.J. is a fine athlete who we expect to have a fine career at Ohio State.”
Sullinger and Stockman must sit out the 2002-03 season to satisfy NCAA transfer rules. Stockman will have two years of eligibility and Sullinger will have three. Ironically, both players wore the No. 0 at their respective universities and won Associated Press Co-Player of the Year honors as high school seniors in Ohio. Sullinger will retain the No. 0 at Ohio State. Stockman will wear No. 10.
Sullinger shared the high school AP honor in 2001 with current Buckeye redshirt freshman Matt Sylvester, who did not play last season with back and calf injuries. Stockman shared the title with Chet Mason (Cleveland South/Miami, Ohio) in 2000.
Jernigan appeared in 19 games at Oregon State for an average of 13.6 minutes a game. He scored 5.4 points per game for the Beavers. In 1999-00 at Santa Rosa Junior College, he averaged 17.5 points a contest, connecting on over 50 percent of his 3-point shots. He owns the school record for 3-pointers made in a game with 10.
As a high school teammate of several players who moved on to NCAA Division I schools, including former Kansas star Drew Gooden, Jernigan averaged 15 points a game in leading his team to the state championship game as a senior. He was a three-year starter and two-time all-conference performer. El Cerrito (Calif.) High School’s record during his three seasons as a starter was 72-22.
Stockman was the top sophomore scorer in the Atlantic Coast Conference in 2001-02 overall and conference games. He averaged 12.2 ppg. overall and 14.1 ppg. in ACC regular-season contests. He finished his sophomore season with 80 3-point field goals, tied for fifth most in Clemson history for single season 3-pointers made.
In just two seasons, he connected on 155 3-pointers, fourth best career total in Clemson history. Nearly 65 percent of his made field goals at Clemson were 3-point shots. He averaged 12.1 points in 59 career games at Clemson.
Stockman scored a career-high 30 points at North Carolina in the last regular season game of the 2001-02 season, a contest in which he scored 28 of Clemson’s 40 points in the first half. He tied a Clemson single-game record with eight 3-point goals in that game, all came in the first half. He also had 30 points in a 118-115 double overtime win over Wake Forest.
At Medina (Ohio) High School, Stockman averaged 25.4 points, 6.1 assists, 4.7 rebounds and three steals a game while shooting 51 percent, 40 percent on 3-pointers, and 84.3 percent at the line. He scored 30 points or more in nine regular-season high school games.
Sullinger averaged 9.4 points a game in 29 contests as a freshman at Arkansas, which finished the 2001-02 season with a 14-15 overall record and a 6-10 mark in the Southeastern Conference. His scoring average was third on the team and his 3.0 rebounds per game was second highest.
On the season, Sullinger averaged 21.1 minutes, shot 43 percent (94-224) from the field and 72 percent (72-100) from the foul line. He also dished out 56 assists, blocked seven shots and recorded 27 steals.
He reached double digits offensively 15 times, scoring a career-high 20 points in an 85-76 loss to Oklahoma State (12/22/01).
Sullinger averaged 21.4 points, 7.5 rebounds and 6.0 assists as a senior at Thomas Worthington High School. As a junior, he contributed 15.6 points, 7.6 rebounds and connected on 57 percent of his shots from the field. He was selected as a Nike All-American as a senior in addition to his AP co-Player of the Year honor.
The Buckeyes start fall practice Oct. 12. The first exhibition game of the season is against Team Nike Nov. 12. Ohio State opens the non-conference season Nov. 25 at home against Coppin State.
2002-03 OSU Numerical Roster
| No. | Name | Pos. | Ht. | Wt. | Cl. | Hometown | H.S. / Last School |
| 0 | J.J. Sullinger # | G | 6-5 | 200 | So. | Columbus, Ohio | Worthington/Arkansas |
| 1 | Charles Bass | C/F | 6-9 | 190 | Fr. | Crete-Monee, Ill. | Crete-Monee |
| 2 | Brandon Fuss-Cheatham * | G | 6-1 | 190 | So. | Beaver Falls, Pa. | Blackhawk |
| 3 | Sean Connolly ** | G | 6-5 | 210 | Sr. | Peabody, Mass. | Bishop Fenwick/Providence College |
| 4 | Brent Darby *** | G | 6-1 | 195 | Sr. | Detroit, Mich. | River Rouge |
| 10 | Tony Stockman # | G | 6-1 | 170 | Jr. | Medina, Ohio | Medina/Clemson |
| 14 | Velimir Radinovic ** | C | 7-0 | 230 | Jr. | Toronto, Ontario Canada | T.A. Blakelock |
| 20 | Emonte Jernigan | G | 6-3 | 200 | Jr. | Richmond, Calif. | El Cerrito/Santa Rosa J.C./Oregon St. |
| 24 | Shaun Smith ** | G | 5-10 | 170 | Sr. | Cincinnati, Ohio | Walnut Hills |
| 33 | Zach Williams ** | F | 6-7 | 230 | Jr. | Brooklyn, N.Y. | Christ the King |
| 34 | Terence Dials * | F/C | 6-9 | 240 | So. | Youngstown, Ohio | Boardman |
| 40 | Matt Sylvester | F | 6-7 | 200 | Fr. | Loveland, Ohio | Moeller |
| 50 | Shun Jenkins | F | 6-6 | 235 | Jr. | Albany, Ga. | Albany/Itawamba C.C. |
| 54 | Matt Marinchick * | C | 6-10 | 240 | So. | Hudson, Ohio | Hudson |
# Eligible in 2003-04
