BOSTON — The Boston Celtics chose Ohio State forward Jared Sullinger with the 21st pick of the NBA draft.
Boston followed up the pick with the selection of Syracuse center Fab Melo at number 22 overall.
Sullinger led the Buckeyes to the NCAA semifinals this year, but his draft stock had fallen, in part because of concerns about back problems. If healthy, he can be a productive scorer and rebounder for a team that needs help in the front court.
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The 6-foot-9, 280-pound Sullinger averaged 17.5 points and 9.2 rebounds as a sophomore last season.
A talented defender and shot blocker, Melo led Syracuse with 5.8 rebounds and 2.9 blocks per game while averaging 7.8 points per game last season but missed the NCAA tournament because of academic issues.
Syracuse was eliminated in the Elite Eight by Ohio State, 77-70.
The Celtics also selected Syracuse forward Kris Joseph with the 51st pick.
Joseph averaged 13.4 points and 4.7 rebounds this season for the Orange. He made 34 percent of his 3-pointers and 42 percent of his shots from the field.
Originally from Montreal, Joseph played four seasons for Syracuse.
With Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen becoming free agents, Boston has just four players under contract — Paul Pierce, Rajon Rondo, Avery Bradley and JaJuan Johnson, last year’s first-round draft pick.