Pelica Debrief
Fansided

New Orleans Pelicans: 3 late-draft candidates to watch in March Madness

By Willie Lutz

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - AUGUST 25: Executive VP of Basketball Operations for the Pelicans David Griffin talks with Pelicans General Manager Trajan Langdon during the BIG3 Playoffs at Smoothie King Center on August 25, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/BIG3 via Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - AUGUST 25: Executive VP of Basketball Operations for the Pelicans David Griffin talks with Pelicans General Manager Trajan Langdon during the BIG3 Playoffs at Smoothie King Center on August 25, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/BIG3 via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 4
Next
COLUMBUS, OHIO – JANUARY 03: Kaleb Wesson #34 of the Ohio State Buckeyes in action in the game against the Wisconsin Badgers at Value City Arena on January 03, 2020 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OHIO – JANUARY 03: Kaleb Wesson #34 of the Ohio State Buckeyes in action in the game against the Wisconsin Badgers at Value City Arena on January 03, 2020 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) /

Kaleb Wesson, PF, The Ohio State University

Acting as the leading man for the Ohio State Buckeyes amidst an impressive 2019-2020 season, Kaleb Wesson is a big who could make a big impact in the NBA.

Certainly, Wesson will have to prove his motor will continue to spin at the professional level, but the junior continues to show high work ethic for the Buckeyes, transforming his body last offseason, including dropping 34 LBS in pursuit of his NBA dreams.

Though Wesson has lost some weight, he’s clearly made up for it in muscle, averaging 14.2 points, 9.4 rebounds, and shooting 43.3% from three on 3.5 attempts this season.

Standing 6’9″ and with elite footwork, someone is going to fall in love with the offensive skillset displayed by the junior Buckeye.

https://twitter.com/BigTenNetwork/status/1223654381272227841

This season, the New Orleans Pelicans have gotten a lot out of their first-year forward Nicolò Melli, another perimeter scoring big who helps space the floor for Zion Williamson.

While Melli is 29-years-old and played many years of European basketball before coming to the NBA, Wesson has played one of the leading roles on an Ohio State team that’s made the tournament in every one of his seasons so far, looking like a lock for a bid again this year.

If Wesson has a great run in March, he could vault up draft boards around the league; front office members are always looking for gritty competitors who don’t back down when the lights get bright.

Starting in all three seasons with Ohio State, he’ll be ready to come into the NBA and make an impact, as he’ll likely still be driven to push for that starting role.