For the first time since 2013, Ohio's Mr. Basketball is taking his talents to Columbus for college.
Westerville South star Kaleb Wesson, an Ohio State signee in the 2017 class, was named the state's Mr. Basketball award winner Wednesday. Mr. Basketball is given annually to Ohio's top high school player and Wesson is the first winner to sign with the Buckeyes since Marc Loving in 2013.
Wesson received four of seven possible first-place votes for the award. Butler signee Kyle Young received two and 2018 Ohio State commit Justin Ahrens received the other.
This season, Wesson averaged 21.3 points and 11.3 rebounds per game while shooting 66.5 percent from the field as he guided Westerville South to a 19-6 season that included an Ohio Capital Conference–Buckeye Division title and a district semifinal appearance.
Wesson was also a key cog in Westerville South's state championship run a season ago as a junior and a trip to the state title game as a sophomore. Kaleb Wesson is the younger brother of current Ohio State freshman Andre Wesson.
Wesson is a 6-foot-10, 271-pound center who is the No. 75-ranked player in the country and a four-star prospect, according to 247Sports composite. He is one of two Ohio State signees in the 2017 class. The other is three-star point guard Braxton Beverly from Hazard, Kentucky.
Other awards claimed this season by Wesson include Ohio Gatorade Player of the Year and the Ohio High School Basketball Coaches Association Player of the Year, among others.
Loving won Mr. Basketball in 2013 and just finished his career with the Buckeyes. Additional Ohio Mr. Basketball award winners in recent years include Luke Kennard (2014, 2015) and Xavier Simpson (2016).
Other recent Ohio Mr. Basketball award winners to sign with Ohio State in the Thad Matta era include Jared Sullinger (2009, 2010), William Buford (2008) and Jon Diebler (2007).
