Kaleb Wesson

Kaleb Avery Wesson (born July 27, 1999) is an American basketball player who currently plays for Santa Cruz Warriors of the NBA G League. He played college basketball for the Ohio State Buckeyes.

Kaleb Wesson
Wesson in March 2020
No. 43 – Santa Cruz Warriors
PositionPower forward / Center
LeagueNBA G League
Personal information
Born (1999-07-27) July 27, 1999
Westerville, Ohio
NationalityAmerican
Listed height6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
Listed weight270 lb (122 kg)
Career information
High schoolWesterville South
(Westerville, Ohio)
CollegeOhio State (2017–2020)
NBA draft2020 / Undrafted
Playing career2020–present
Career history
2021–presentSanta Cruz Warriors
Career highlights and awards

High school career

Wesson is the son of Keith Wesson, who played at Ohio State from 1983 to 1987. Kaleb attended Westerville South High School and played alongside older brother Andre. Kaleb became a starter as a sophomore on the state runner-up team. He had seven points and four rebounds as the Wildcats beat Lima Senior High School 57–55 to claim the state title. Wesson scored a school-record 49 points in a 68–67 loss to Upper Arlington High School on January 24, 2017. As a senior, Wesson averaged 22.4 points and 10.9 rebounds per game and shot 67 percent from the floor on a team that finished 19–6. He was named Ohio Mr. Basketball.[1]

Recruiting

Wesson was a four-star recruit, rated as the No. 75 overall player and No. 6 center in his class, and committed to Ohio State.[2]

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Kaleb Wesson
C		 Westerville, OH Westerville (OH) 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 290 lb (130 kg) Jul 3, 2015 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals:   247Sports:    ESPN:   ESPN grade: 85
Overall recruiting rankings:   Rivals: 87  247Sports: 97  ESPN: 72
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "Ohio State 2017 Basketball Commitments". Rivals.com. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
  • "2017 Ohio State Buckeyes Recruiting Class". ESPN.com. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
  • "2017 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved May 28, 2020.

    College career

    After arriving at Ohio State, Wesson worked to get in better shape, losing weight by cutting out soda and juice.[2] He averaged 10.2 points and 4.9 rebounds per game on 56 percent shooting as a freshman.[3] He was named to the Big Ten All-Freshman team.[4] Wesson had a career-high 31 points in a 75–56 win against Youngstown State on December 18, 2018.[5] On March 1, 2019, Wesson was suspended for violating athletic department policy.[6] He missed three games and returned in time for a Big Ten Tournament matchup with Indiana, finishing with 17 points, 13 rebounds, three assists, three blocks and two steals in the 79–75 victory.[7] Wesson was an All-Big Ten honorable mention selection.[8] As a sophomore, Wesson averaged 14.6 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game, shooting 50 percent from the floor and 34 percent from three-point range. After the season, he declared for the 2019 NBA draft but ultimately opted to return to Ohio State.[9]

    Wesson worked on his conditioning coming into his junior year by boxing with strength and conditioning coach Quadrian Banks.[3] He was ranked the sixth best player in college basketball by ESPN in October 2019.[10] After scoring 10 points and grabbing 11 rebounds in a 76–51 victory over Villanova, Wesson was named Big Ten player of the week on November 18.[11] He had 28 points and 10 rebounds in a 106–74 rout of Penn State, helping the Buckeyes notch 100 points against a Big Ten rival for the first time since 1991.[12] At the close of the regular season, Wesson was named to the Second Team All-Big Ten by the coaches and media.[13] As a junior, Wesson averaged 14.0 points and 9.3 rebounds per game, shooting 42.5% from beyond the arc.[14] Following the season, he declared for the 2020 NBA draft.[15]

    Professional career

    After going undrafted in the 2020 NBA draft, Wesson signed with the Golden State Warriors.[16] On December 18, 2020, the Warriors released Wesson.[17]

    Santa Cruz Warriors (2021–present)

    On January 12, 2021, Wesson was included in roster of Santa Cruz Warriors which would participate the 2020–21 season in the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex of Walt Disney World Resort located near Orlando.[18]

    Career statistics
    Legend
      GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
     FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
     RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
     BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

    College
    Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
    2017–18 Ohio State 333020.7.562.286.7214.91.1.5.610.2
    2018–19 Ohio State 323125.9.500.347.7346.91.81.0.714.6
    2019–20 Ohio State 313129.5.444.425.7319.31.9.71.014.0
    Career 969225.3.495.385.7297.01.6.8.812.9

    References
    1. "Westerville South's Kaleb Wesson named AP Mr. Basketball; Jackson's Kyle Young second in voting". Akron Beacon Journal. Associated Press. March 27, 2017. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
    2. Means, Stephen (October 17, 2019). "How a change in lifestyle helped Ohio State basketball's Kaleb Wesson keep his weight off for good". Cleveland Plain Dealer. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
    3. McCurdy, Rob (September 27, 2019). "Ohio State Buckeyes getting new look center with Kaleb Wesson in basketball". The Marion Star. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
    4. "View the 2017-18 All-Big Ten Men's Basketball Team". Big Ten Network. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
    5. "No. 15 Buckeyes overcome slow start, rout Youngstown State". ESPN. Associated Press. December 18, 2018. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
    6. Abdeldaiem, Alaa (March 1, 2019). "Ohio State Suspends Kaleb Wesson for Violation of Athletics Department Policy". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
    7. Ryan, Shannon (March 14, 2019). "Ohio State looks more like an NCAA Tournament team with Kaleb Wesson's return". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
    8. "Big Ten Unveils Men's Basketball Postseason Honors on BTN". BigTen.org. March 11, 2019. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
    9. Phillips, Scott (May 28, 2018). "Kaleb Wesson returning to Ohio State after testing NBA draft waters". NBC Sports. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
    10. Gasaway, John (October 29, 2019). "Top 25 players for the 2019-20 college basketball season". ESPN. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
    11. Murphy, Patrick (November 18, 2019). "Kaleb Wesson named Big Ten Player of the Week". 247 Sports. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
    12. "Wesson, No. 6 Ohio State unload on Penn State 106–74". ESPN. Associated Press. December 7, 2019. Retrieved December 8, 2019.
    13. "Big Ten Unveils Men's Basketball Postseason Honors on BTN" (Press release). Big Ten Conference. March 9, 2020. Retrieved March 9, 2020.
    14. Harrison, Phil (March 9, 2020). "Ohio State big man Kaleb Wesson named second team All-Big Ten by the coaches and media". Buckeyes Wire. Retrieved March 24, 2020.
    15. "Ohio State's Kaleb Wesson entering NBA draft". ESPN. April 2, 2020. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
    16. "Warriors Announce Roster for 2020-21 Training Camp, Fueled by Gatorade". NBA.com. December 3, 2020. Retrieved December 6, 2020.
    17. "Warriors Waive Forwards Sutton, Toupane and Wesson". NBA.com. December 18, 2020. Retrieved December 18, 2020.
    18. "Santa Cruz Warriors announce 2020-21 roster". NBA.com. January 12, 2021. Retrieved January 12, 2021.
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