Golden State Warriors: 3 Santa Cruz players to keep an eye on
By Tony Pesta
Golden State Warriors’ standouts: Kaleb Wesson
Kaleb Wesson had a rough debut for Santa Cruz. He only scored eight points on 3-of-9 shooting but he did haul in 12 rebounds. The lumbering big man showed flashes of explosive leaping-ability as he crashed down a big dunk late in the game.
Wesson played three seasons with Ohio State, averaging 14.0 points and 9.3 rebounds as a senior. He was a member of the 2019-20 All-Ten team and has the potential to bang in the NBA as an undersized center (his build matches that of Draymond Green and Eric Paschall).
A few things holding Wesson back is his defense. He isn’t a great shot blocker because of his height and he doesn’t show as much pop on the perimeter as guys like Green. He also has room to improve as a playmaker, something that will limit his ceiling in small-ball lineups.
Still, with injuries to Warriors big men like James Wiseman, Marquese Chriss and Kevon Looney – Wesson could find himself making it to the big league. He is a reliable stretch-big, shooting above 40 percent from the 3-point line in his last season at OSU.
It’s a long shot, but Wesson has the raw potential of a P.J. Tucker type prospect. He’s only 21 years old, meaning the Warriors could have a hidden gem to develop for the future.