pic credit: Dziki Warszawa

Andre Wesson (198-F-1997, college: Ohio St., agency: Players Group) is a 27 year old 198cm forward from Ohio playing his fourth professional season and first with Dziki Warszawa (Poland-OBL). Last season he played with at Budapesti Honved SE (Hungary-A Division) averaging 12.7ppg, 4.7rpg, 1.8apg, FGP: 43.7%, 3PT: 32.4%, FT: 75.0%. In the 2022-2023 season he split time with Anorthosis Ammohostou (Cyprus-OPAP) averaging 11.7ppg, 7.7rpg, 2.0apg, in Jan.’23 moved to KFUM Nassjo Basket (Sweden-Basketligan) averaging12.0ppg, 5.2rpg, 2.2apg, FGP: 52.2%, 3PT: 38.7%, FT: 78.6%. He played his rookie season with Lapuan Korikobrat (Finland-Korisliiga) averaging 16.1ppg, 5.3rpg, 2.5apg, 1.5spg, FGP: 63.7%, 3PT: 34.7%, FT: 80.2%. He began his basketball career at Westerville South High school and then played at Ohio State (NCAA) from 2016-2020 playing a total of 126 games and as a senior averaged 9.2ppg, 3.9rpg, 1.9apg, FGP: 50.5%, 3PT: 42.2%, FT: 80.0%. He spoke to germanhoops.com before a ENBL game against Bamberg.

Thanks Andre for talking to germanhoops.com. Your playing your fourth professional season and have seen many countries. You keep grinding and moving up the ladder now in a strong league in Poland. Do you have a chip on your shoulder after coming from top NCAA school Ohio State?

For sure, coming from a top school like Ohio State, and playing a big role for the team that was ranked high during my time there. I think we were number 2 in the country twice, and thought I had a good year especially my senior season. So to go from that to not even playing the following year whether that was G-league or overseas was really a shock to me and a wake up call I would say. It was definitely a rough time for me and made me look in the mirror about what I could do better, and something that I try to carry with me even today.

Your playing your first season with Dziki Warszawa (Poland-OBL). What kind of an experience has it been for you and what have you enjoyed most from the experience?

It’s been a great experience so far. I’m in a great city with plenty of things to do, good food and great people in the organization who are always trying to make things easier for you so you can just focus on basketball. The thing I’ve enjoyed the most here are my teammates. Of course we come in everyday focused on work and getting better, but these guys make it fun too. Being one of the younger players on the team I’ve learned from these guys too about taking care of your body and having a routine. It can be a long season, especially this time of year for guys like me being so far from home, but my teammates have made it better and kept me focused on the task of winning games and getting better everyday.

Dziki Warszawa (Poland-OBL) is in the middle of the pack in the Polish first division. What does the club have to do better in the next 2 months to reach the playoffs?

Yea we started off pretty good and were winning games because of our defense. We weren’t the best team offensively but our defense was good enough to get it done. We’ve hit a little rough patch here recently which is a little understandable, I mean we got 2 new players in the matter of 3-4 weeks. It’s helped us offensively. I think we’re playing at a good pace offensively and moving the ball well, so I’m excited to see what we can do in these next 2 months. I think if we get back to what we were doing at the beginning of the year on defense which is on all of us, I think we could really do something special honestly.

Your playing Bamberg in the ENBL quarterfinals. Your still searching for your first pro chip. What kind of a series can we await?

It’ll be a battle for sure. They have some really good players over there, my guy Ibi Watson that I played travel basketball with in high school and have played against on every level it feels like now. I played against Noah Locke when I was in Hungary, so I’m familiar with some of their players, and know that it’ll be a challenge. I know that we’re ready for it though and wouldn’t want it any other way. We feel like we match up well with anybody that we play, and know that when we play to the level we are capable of for 40 minutes we’re a tough team to beat. Personally, I know that the ultimate compliment you can get in a team sport is to be labeled as a winner. So getting this first pro championship for me would be huge and something that I don’t take lightly.

Bamberg are the favorite on Paper. What will be key to getting by them and advancing?

Yea like I stated early I think it all starts for us on the defensive end. Offensively we need to keep doing what we’re doing, getting the best shot available every time down court, taking care of the ball and playing with pace. I think if we continue to do that and get back to our defensive identity we’ll be just fine not just for this series, but the ones later on as well.

What has it been like sharing the court with Swedish national player Denzel Andersson. What have you appreciated most about his game?

It’s been great. I mean some of the things he’s able to do on the defensive end you can’t even teach. He can guard multiple positions and using his length to block and alter shots is nothing like I’ve seen in person close up. Coupled with his ability to shoot the ball he’s one hell of a player. And as good as a player that he is,he’s an even better person which makes it even better he’s my teammate.

You’re a guy that gives good scoring qualities, but all in all fill up then stat sheet. What is your role on the team?

I think it’s just that. A guy who fills in the gaps for the team, whether that’s scoring, rebounding or defending, it’s whatever the game calls for that specific day or night that I can do it.

You’re a 198cm guard. If you had to compare your game to a NBA player who would best fit the description?

That’s tough. I feel like there’s not really anybody who would fit exactly, but just some who are close or come to mind would be Derrick White, Christian Braun or Terrance Mann. Guys who are kind of glue guys on their team, who are versatile and just competing, doing whatever that game calls for to get the win.

Talk a little about your strengths on offense. You also give good support with your outside shot. What is your biggest asset in your game?

Offensively I think my best asset is my versatility. I feel like I’m a guy that can post up, I can play off the ball in a catch in shoot and can play in pick in rolls and create. I think I don’t do one thing that just stands out as amazingly well, but a lot of things are good.

How would you describe your defensive game? What kind of a defender are you at the moment and what kind do you still want to become?

I think I’m a very good defender. I can guard multiple positions, I’m good in post defense and 1 on1 perimeter defense. I use my length well to bother and block shots. There’s still things I can be better at to become the elite defender I want to be. I think I need to be better in close out situations, I’d like to get a little stronger so I can guard even more positions and get better in consistently navigating screens better in pick and roll situations. I think if I do these things I can become elite.

On what areas of your game are you working on most now so you can continue to improve your game?

Just continuing to work on my outside shot mainly catch and shoot situations. Also working on playing out of close out situations and making decisions and reads quicker, and as a stated early getting a little stronger. Not like I don’t feel strong now, but I think adding more strength to my lower body and core could add even more to my game.

Last season you balled with Budapesti Honved SE (Hungary-A Division) averaging 12.7ppg, 4.7rpg, 1.8apg, FGP: 43.7%, 3PT: 32.4%, FT: 75.0%. You had a long playoff run. What will you always remember from that playoff grind?

The biggest thing I learned and remember from that playoff run was its being a lot more physical and very tactical. Being in these series these teams know all your tendencies and throw things at you to put you in uncomfortable situations. I think the key to it is instead of letting it affect you in any way, that’s when you should lock in even more and find a way to get it done. I think at times last year especially in the first series I would let some of the things they’d do affect me and take me out of my game instead of locking in more and just figuring it out. I think I was able to do that in the last 2 series and it helped me a lot.

In your second pro season you split time with Anorthosis Ammohostou (Cyprus-OPAP Basket League) averaging 11.7ppg, 7.7rpg, 2.0apg, in Jan.’23 moved to KFUM Nassjo Basket (Sweden-Basketligan) averaging 12.0ppg, 5.2rpg, 2.2apg, FGP: 52.2%, 3PT: 38.7%, FT: 78.6%. How tough was this season? You saw how basketball can be a business. What did you learn about yourself in this season?

It was really tough. As you said it was the first time that I really got to see how the business of basketball works. I had come off a pretty good year in Finland personally, team wise I wish we could’ve done more that year, but I thought I had made a big step in my game that first year. It was a rough first month in Cyprus. I got sick and was out for a week and a half, and other circumstances were going on. I never really was able to get comfortable and get back to the form that I was at. I got pretty close with some of my teammates out there so getting cut hurts, and made me realize that teams aren’t going to be patient with you always. Just like you have a job to do so do they, and that’s putting a team out there that they feel gives them the best chance to win. So I didn’t take it too personally, but it was definitely something that even today that I carry with me. Luckily, I was able to be picked up mid way through the year that season by Nassjo and was able to have a decent year there. It was a wild and difficult year, but I learned a lot and honestly wouldn’t want to change anything about it.

In Sweden you were swept by Norrkoping in the playoffs. What made it so difficult getting by them?

They were a really good team. I think the thing that stood out the most about playing them was their depth. It felt like anytime that they made a change or sub that they didn’t have any drop off. They had size, experience and players that were threats at all positions. They were well coached too, I mean there’s a reason I think they’ve won that league three straight years. You could tell that a lot of them had played together for some years with how connected they were offensively and defensively.

You played your rookie season with Lapuan Korikobrat (Finland-Korisliiga) averaging 16.1ppg, 5.3rpg, 2.5apg, 1.5spg, FGP: 63.7%, 3PT: 34.7%, FT: 80.2%. What do you remember being your wake up call to being overseas where you knew that you were far away from home?

My wake up call happened as soon as I got to the city. Lapua was a very small town, super quiet wasn’t much to do which is different from where I’m from. That was the first time I ever saw that much snow, and it got dark around 3 in the afternoon which I didn’t even think was possible. The people there are great people though, they helped me a lot with my adjustment and tried their best to make you feel comfortable. I had great teammates while I was there also so it ended up being a good time. Wish we could’ve won more games, but after not playing my first year out of college I was just glad to be playing again.

You had some high scoring games at the end of the season like 30 points against the Bisons and 29 points against Korhait. What was your fondest moment on and off the court in Finland?

Like I said I had great teammates. There wasn’t much to do off the court, but we still had some good times just hanging out with each other after practices and games. The best memory I had though was at the end of the year we went skiing, and that was the first time I had ever done that so that was pretty cool. The best on the court memory was probably when we beat Lahti at home. At the time I don’t think they had beaten them in two years or so, pretty much the whole game we were down and at the end I got hot and we were able to beat them in overtime. That was pretty cool seeing how happy everybody in the organization was after that game.

You played at Ohio State from 2016-2020 and reached 2 NCAA tournaments. Which run was sweeter? You lost to Gonzaga and Houston?

The run that was sweeter to me was the 2019 year when we upset Iowa St. We were on the bubble that year, and didn’t even know if we were going to be in the tournament. We had a super up and down year, I mean I think at one point we were #10 in the country and then we got to January and didn’t win a game that whole month. Towards the end of that year we were able to get some big wins and found our way into the tournament. Got placed against a really good Iowa St team with Tyreese Haliburton, Talen Horton-Tucker, Marial Shayok I think they had just won the Big 12 tournament so nobody had us winning that game. To be able to upset a team like that was huge for our team, unfortunately we played another really good Houston team the next game and wasn’t able to get it done. But that was a good time just being able to get into the tournament after such a crazy year and get a win. The 2018 year I felt like we let that one get away when we played Gonzaga. We felt like we had a really good team that year and could’ve done something special, so to lose that game especially the way that we did really hurt. That year we had a good chance of winning the Big Ten so we felt like we could’ve done more than what we accomplished.

You played 2 seasons with future NBA player Keita Bates-Diop. What was it like for you seeing him perform and what kind of an influence did he have on you?

Man Keita Bates-Diop was a hell of a player. My Freshman year he got hurt and wasn’t able to play the majority of that year, and it hurt our team for sure. Just seeing the way that he came back that following year was special though. Just the way he attacked everyday in practice and leading up to that year in his workouts you knew that he was going to have a great season that following year, and he did. I think he was Big Ten Player of the year, and I think he was an All-American also. It was a special year for him and our team. If it wasn’t for the buzzer beater loss to Penn State that year we could’ve won the Big Ten regular season championship. I think him and Jae’sean Tate had a big influence on all of us in how hard you have to work, and the energy you have to bring everyday to be the best version of yourself.

You had many great games and wins like beating Michigan and Kentucky in your senior year. What was your fondest moment there?

That year was a movie, it’s hard to really even explain everything that we went through that year. From losing teammates, to being ranked #2 In the country two different times it had so many ups and downs. I just really wish that it wouldn’t have been cut short by Covid to see how it would’ve ended. We beat a lot of good teams that year, and I personally think that we could have accomplished a lot. I have a lot of great memories from that year from winning at North Carolina, beating Kentucky in Las Vegas, beating Michigan home and away. I had great teammates too that made even off the court fun, so that was a special year and something that I’ll never forget.

How did Chris Holtman groom and prepare you best for a professional career?

He taught me a lot in my time there. Him and Coach Matta I learned a lot from them both. They taught me what it looks like to work hard, and the sacrifices that you have to make for the betterment of the team. That just going to practice and doing team stuff isn’t enough if you want to be the best. That you should leave a program better off than it was before you got there. I learned how to be a better man in my time there, and how important relationships are. So I’m very grateful for them and the role that they played in my life.

Who is the toughest player that you ever faced in your life that reached the NBA?

The toughest player I faced was probably Jayson Tatum or Malik Monk. Malik Monk scored 50 points against my team in AAU with Coach Calipari there and it was the easiest 50 points I’ve ever seen in my life. He had the first 9 points of the game before 30 seconds had run off the clock. Jayson Tatum was the toughest player I had to face; he just didn’t have any real weaknesses offensively.

Who are your 5 best teammates of all-time?

My 5 best teammates are one my brother, of course he’s my brother, but to be the best player on my team and be so unselfish is a testament to him as a person. Two would probably be CJ Jackson, just another guy that was so unselfish and would do anything for you. Three would be Kam Williams, probably one of the hardest workers I’ve ever been around and made you want to push yourself to be in the gym because you knew he was. Four would be Jelani Rodgers, a guy that I played with in high school. He was our point guard and another one that just worked so hard was always in the gym and sacrificed a lot for the team so we all could be successful. Five would be Jae’Sean Tate, he was also so unselfish and to a fault sometimes, but just how he brought it every single day and worked hard to be where he’s at now was inspirational to everybody on that team.

Please list your personal NBA Mount Rushmore?

My NBA Mount Rushmore would be Micheal Jordan, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, and Kareem Abdul Jabbar

Who is your GOAT?

My GOAT is LeBron James. It’s close though Michael Jordan was the standard, but for LeBron to have won everywhere that he’s been, do it for as long as he’s done it and the talent that he’s had to face and still win with little to nothing to work with is amazing to me. I get Mike was a killer and had to face a lot of talented players too, but people don’t ever bring up just how great the players around him were when he was winning those championships. Not to take anything from Mike, but Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, Horace Grant, Tony Kukoc, Ron Harper these guys were dawgs. Let alone having one of, if not the greatest coach of all time in Phil Jackson.

Did you see the sequel to the classic Coming To America? Shouldn´t they have left it alone?

I did see the sequel and it was bad can’t lie. Probably should have left it alone, but as long as Eddie Murphy wants to make a movie I’m all for it personally. He’s one of my favorite actors with so many classics it’s hard to tell him to leave any movie alone.

Thanks Andre for the Chat