Ohio State Basketball: Kaleb Wesson could be in for a big junior year

Ohio State basketball’s Kaleb Wesson was named as one of the Preseason All-Big Ten honorees on Wednesday. This is what we could see from him this season.

Kaleb Wesson had a solid year for the Ohio State Buckeyes during his sophomore season, earning 2019 All-Big Ten Honorable Mention. I think this year however he could be in for an even bigger season.

Wesson made a nice leap in production his sophomore year compared to his freshman season. In 2017-18 he averaged 10.2 points per game, 4.9 rebounds per game, 1.1 assists and 0.5 steals.

Last season he ultimately averaged 14.6 points per game, 6.9 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1 steal per game.

He also improved his free throw shooting, making 73.4 percent of his free throws compared to 72.1 his freshman season, and even though he’s not a volume three-point shooter he improved from his 28.6 percent shooting mark beyond the arc in 2017-18 to 34.7 percent last year.

More from Scarlet and Game

• Ohio State Football: How Denzel Burke has bounced back so far this season
• Ohio State basketball: Buckeyes conference schedule is set
• Ohio State Football rolling into form at the perfect time
• How Ohio State football has done historically versus new Big 12
• Ohio State Football: We need to see “Killer Ryan Day” at South Bend

The Buckeyes relied on him a lot more too last season as he played five more minutes per game and put up more three more shot attempts per game.

I expect Wesson’s usage rate to increase even more this season as it is his third year in the system and Ohio State’s second leading scorer from last season, C.J. Jackson, has since graduated.

With him getting more usage, I think his points per game, rebounds per game, and assists per game will all definitely increase and with another offseason under his belt I wouldn’t be surprised if his shooting percentages improve as well.

All of this is will be combined with Wesson shaving off some weight this offseason as well.

According to The Lantern, Wesson has dropped 34 pounds this offseason as he now weighs 255 pounds.

The weight loss is starting to show on the court too, according to his brother and teammate Andre Wesson.

"“It’s helped him a lot,” senior forward and brother Andre Wesson said to The Lantern. “Just watching him develop since May, since the end of the season, I mean it’s crazy to see how better he’s moving, how well he’s jumping and stuff now, so it’s definitely been a big change for him.”"

Kaleb Wesson was already Ohio State’s best player last year but his weight loss combined with improvements in his game and having even more experience in head coach Chris Holtmann’s system, I expect him to have a huge season for the Buckeyes and to lead them to yet another NCAA Tournament appearance.