All-Ohio Always Loaded VIP
by Andrew Force, Future150 (2:26 AM CT, Thu July 23, 2015)

Columbus, OH (Future150) -- Tradition is everywhere in the basketball world.  

Kaleb Wesson will attend Ohio State.  He verbally committed in June, but might have been destined for the Big 10 power the day he was born.  His father, Keith Wesson played for Ohio State in the 1980's.

Wesson will keep two traditions alive with his verbal commitment to Ohio State.  He is continuing the tradition of both his blood family and basketball family, All-Ohio Red.   All-Ohio Red is perhaps more closely alligned with the nearby college than any other AAU program is associated with any other college in the nation.

In the 1980's Indiana drew numerous players from Bloomington Red.  And Indiana Elite is pretty commonly distributing current players to Indiana University.  

Still All-Ohio Red is easily one of the two best AAU programs in the state.  

And Ohio State brilliantly recruits the state of Ohio.  So, seemingly every year Ohio State signs a former member of All-Ohio Red to its basketball program.  

Marc Loving, Jared Sullinger, Aaron Craft, JD Weatherspoon, Jordan Sibert, Nick Ward (2016), and on and on.

Kaleb has nice feet and backs down with confidence.  He wants the ball and shows for it often.  Many bigs his age are busy trying to stretch the defense with a 15-foot jumper.  Kaleb can shoot a little bit, but he knows his position and embraces the challenge off owning the blocks.  

Overlooked 17u Player

On every AAU team there are players being recruited below their appropriate level.  It happens.  Reasons include: lack of playing time, underperforming during LIVE periods, playing poorly in front of the higher-tier coaches, etc.

Whatever the reason, James Manns fits into this category.

The 6-foot-7 lefty wing really competes.  He does everything you want in a third scoring option.  He rebounds at both ends.  He can handle and shoot a bit.  If he has a weakness it is outside shooting.  Still, he can defend three positions, rebound, and score under the bucket. 

He definitely could play for every team in the Ohio Valley Conference.  Manns could start for a handful of MAC teams by his senior year.  He is a mid-major dream.

However, he is being overlooked.  Who is after the 2016 forward?