After being hospitalized earlier in the day with apparent food poisoning, Ohio State recruit Jared Sullinger still managed to put on a show for the Schottenstein Center crowd.

The Columbus Northland center scored a game-high 22 points and grabbed seven rebounds for the East in Wednesday’s McDonalds All-American game. Sullinger was named the East’s MVP, but his team lost to the West, 107-104 after guard Brandon Knight hit a three pointer with less than five seconds remaining.

Despite the loss, Sullinger still considered the night a success.

“Early this morning I didn’t think I was going to be able to play,” Sullinger said. “I just wanted to show the Buckeye fans what Columbus had coming and luckily my teammates were unselfish enough to let me do that.”

The West’s MVP, and the player who many believe is the best in the 2010 class, was North Carolina recruit Harrison Barnes. The future Tar Heel scored 18 points, 13 of which came in the first half.

East forward Deshaun Thomas, who will join Sullinger at OSU next season, had a somewhat mediocre performance. Thomas had 11 points and seven rebounds, but was just 5-14 from the field. Regardless, Sullinger said, he and Thomas showed why OSU fans should be very excited about next season.

“Deshaun and I are really excited to play for the Ohio State University,” Sullinger said. “[We] really wanted to put on a show for the Buckeye fans tonight, and that’s what we did.”