Ohio State sophomore forward Kaleb Wesson will enter his name into the NBA Draft but will maintain his collegiate eligibility regardless of whether or not he hires an agent, head coach Chris Holtmann announced Wednesday.
OSU head coach Chris Holtmann said rising junior center Kaleb Wesson will enter his name into the NBA Draft, but will maintain his eligibility. He will be able to return to OSU if he wants. pic.twitter.com/hQePVIKorh
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“I fully support him in going through this process, and we’re going to walk through it with him,” Holtmann said. “We’ll see where it leads.”
The 6-9, 270-pound Wesson — who hails from Westerville (Ohio) South — was honorable mention All-Big Ten after he led the Buckeyes with 14.6 points and 6.9 rebounds per game in 32 appearances this season. He also missed three games late in the year due to a suspension for a violation of team rules, but returned for the Big Ten Tournament and then scored 21 points in a win over Iowa State in the first-round of the NCAA Tournament.
“Well, I think the feedback’s always good,” Holtmann said. “I think Kaleb is bright and his family has a good and reasonable understanding of what this process is and kind of where he currently is, so I think all of that’s really helpful.
“I don’t know what I would put odds on, but we’re every day kind of getting feedback that gives us, and gives him, a better idea of kind of where he currently stands.”
Though Wesson has not decided if he’ll hire an agent, a new rule was instituted this year that allows players to do so during the process and still return to school if they fire their agent. Players who do not hire an agent, meanwhile, will retain their collegiate eligibility if they withdraw their name from consideration prior to the draft or if they go undrafted.
Wesson has two years of eligibility remaining, and it’s widely expected he’ll return for at least his junior year.
