Signing his name on the dotted line Wednesday, Kaleb Wesson became the final piece to a three-part Ohio State puzzle for his family. As he and older brother Andre Wesson have both signed with the Buckeyes in a span of seven months, Kaleb Wesson’s signing on Wednesday is huge not only for Ohio State, but for a Wesson family that is as good as they come.
When Wesson was offered by Ohio State in June of 2015, the consensus around the area was that he was a no-brainer to the Bucks. After all, his father Keith Wesson played for Ohio State, and it had always been Kaleb’s dream to don the scarlet and grey. Committing to OSU just a few weeks later, Wesson became the first piece to the Buckeyes’ 2017 class, which allowed him to set his sights forward to the ultimate goal - a state championship with his brother.
It was then on that Andre Wesson stole the spotlight. While Kaleb has always been regarded among the elite of the elite in his class, Andre’s path was a little different. Always underrated, Andre had to work really hard to garner the recognition that other big-time players in his class, like Michigan State’s Nick Ward, Harvard’s Seth Towns and Syracuse’s Matt Moyer, were receiving early on.
Meeting Andre in the fall of 2013, he made it very clear that he was going to make it his mission to be just as good, if not better, than those in his class who were highly-regarded. And Andre did something, with the help of his brother and a cast of talented Westerville South teammates, that no other area player in his class could do - win a state championship.
When both Wesson brothers were on the floor last season, Westerville South was damn near unstoppable, as the Wildcats had a steel curtain of defense with Andre “The Glove” on the perimeter, and “Big Ticket” Kaleb underneath. While a foot injury kept Kaleb off the floor for a few weeks during the season, Andre stepped up, elevating his level of play to another universe.
Despite holding offers from schools like Richmond and Butler, Andre decided to delay his decision, allowing more time for Ohio State to take a serious look. After a Feb. 5 loss to Dublin Jerome toward the end of the regular season, a game in which Kaleb was still out with injury, Westerville South would not lose again.
As the big junior center rejoined the team for a tournament run with high expectations, Westerville South rattled off nine wins in a row, taking down Pickerington Central, Gahanna, Garfield Heights and Lima Senior - teams with a staggering amount of Division I talent - in a row.
Andre and Kaleb, combined with the play of senior wing Jordan Humphrey, a Lake Erie College commit who stole the show at the state final four, performed at the top of their games, taking Westerville South somewhere it had never been before. Ohio State’s coaches told Andre to go win a state title and then they would talk to him, and he did just that. Deciding not to wait much longer, Ohio State offered Andre on March 23, four days after he led Westerville South to a state championship. Andre would then sign a few weeks later, becoming the second piece to the Ohio State puzzle for the Wesson's.
With his brother moving on, Kaleb now holds the keys to the Westerville South basketball program. Finding himself on a high school team without Andre for the first time ever, the 6-foot-9 center won’t have to wait much longer to play with his brother again. While the Wesson family can’t wait for the day to see both of their boys in scarlet and grey, Kaleb has a chance to do something that not even former Buckeye Jared Sullinger could do in his storied high school career.
A third state tournament appearance and second state championship are the goals Kaleb has set for himself, as Westerville South will look to do the near impossible at the Division I level in Ohio. From a family that is grace personified with a winning pedigree, Kaleb is prepared for this moment in his life.
After all, just one year ago, his older brother Andre did the impossible, parlaying a state championship into an offer from Ohio State, an offer that seemed highly unlikely just several months prior. Watching the example his brother set, Kaleb embraces his role as a senior on the verge of history and the final piece to the Wesson family’s Ohio State puzzle.
Thad Matta on Kaleb Wesson
Thad Matta spoke to the media on Wednesday. What did he have to say about newest signee Kaleb Wesson?
"Kaleb Wesson, you guys are very familiar with him. I’m elated to have him. I think that he is a big-time post player. You look at his skill level and he’s as skilled as anybody that I’ve seen in a long time with his hands, his feet, he steps out and shoots, he’s an unbelievable passer out of the post and he’s a winner. The job that Coach Calo has done with him, watching him and recruiting Andre and Kaleb, that kid is getting coached every day so we’re excited for that."
Matta on coaching the Wesson brothers and Kaleb's body size:
“To make it even more unique, his dad played here. Keith played here. I think in terms of Kaleb’s conditioning you can see he’s very committed to it. Looking at the transformation Andre’s made from the time he’s made here with his body and I think he knows what’s coming down the pipe. … He’s a big body and he carries it well, I will say that. He uses it, a little bit like Jared [Sullinger], he uses his size for an advantage.”
Matta on Kaleb's passing ability:
“I’m not drawing the comparison with Jared because Jared is one of the best players I’ve ever coached, hands down, but you had that luxury that if all else failed, throw it in to him because he could pass out of it. Jared, all he wanted to know in scouting was where the double team was coming from so he knew where the coverage was so he could find his guys. Kaleb sort of has that ability to pass out of it. He makes free throws, he steps out and shoots 3s. I’m excited because I think you can run some offense through him. Big guys that can pass and handle are a high commodity now.”
