The Boston Celtics have been rumored to have interest in Jared Sullinger, the 6-foot-10 power forward/center who averaged 17.5 points and 9.3 rebounds last year as a sophomore at Ohio State. Danny Ainge did nothing to dispel the notion that he likes Sullinger Wednesday during an interview with WEEI, gushing when asked about the prospect.

“Sullinger’s been a terrific player everywhere he’s been. He was a dominant high school player and a dominant player in the Big Ten as a freshman and sophomore,” Ainge told the Big Show Wednesday. “I don’t know anything about the medical stuff (Sullinger has back issues which have worried teams as the draft approaches) — we’re meeting this week on all of our doctors’ medical reports that they’ve accumulated — so I don’t know any of that. But let’s just assume he’s healthy and clean, and his issue is a minor issue that can be rectified. I think that he has a terrific future. Very solid big guy that can pass, shoot, think and rebound.”

Asked next about Norfolk State prospect Kyle O’Quinn, Ainge responded in part, “He doesn’t have the chance to be as special as Sullinger.”

So yes, Ainge likes Sullinger. Let the speculation continue.