Newark’s Duling shines bright in all-star game
BJ Duling didn’t need the Ohio North-South Division I-II all-star game to showcase his prodigious skills, but it didn’t hurt.
“I love these games because you don’t have to worry about anything,” the 6-foot-7 Newark senior said. “You just come out and do your thing.”
Duling’s thing in leading the South to a 135-116 victory Friday night at Otterbein’s Rike Center was getting to the basket. Using his leaping ability, quick moves and aggressiveness — and coupled with the matador-like defenses that rule in such settings — Duling shined.
“Man, is he super athletic,” South coach Tim Casey of Upper Arlington said. “When he attacks, I just don’t know how anybody guards him. The same held true when we saw him during the season. He’s an outstanding player with a bright future.”
Although Torey Patton of Trotwood-Madison (21 points, four assists) was selected the MVP, Duling scored 29 points on 13-of-24 shooting and had six rebounds.
While Duling had scholarship offers from major programs, he chose Kent State primarily because it has a noted fashion design and marketing major. Duling has been interested in fashion much of his life.
“People really care about what they’re wearing and it can make an impact, sometimes indirectly, in our dayto-day lives in terms of self-esteem and the way people perceive you,” he said. “Fashion has been in my heart for a long time and it’s great that I’ll get a chance to play for an outstanding basketball program at the same time I’m chasing my dream.”
Central Ohio’s other two representatives in the game, Kaleb Wesson of Westerville South and Ridge Young of Logan Elm, also played significant roles for the South.
Wesson, Ohio’s Mr. Basketball winner and the prized recruit of Ohio State’s incoming freshman class, had 14 points and 13 rebounds. Young also scored 14 points.
“I didn’t have to prove anything,” Wesson said. “You can’t take all-star games too seriously. The idea is to go out there and have fun and get your teammates involved.”
Casey, who watched Wesson score 49 points against his Upper Arlington team in one of the showcase games of the season, loved what Wesson brought to the team.
“He just has a great feel for the game,” Casey said. “He cleaned up everything that was missed under the basket and he really impacted the game by contesting shots, getting some deflections and outletting the ball on the break. He could have scored a lot more points, but our team was really unselfish.”
Wesson, who shook his head in disbelief that his high school career is history, said he and his brother Andre, an Ohio State freshman, already have been working out together for their reunion next season. The last time they played together, Westerville South won a Division I championship.
The South shot 54 percent from the field, made 18 three-pointers and racked up 24 assists against just six turnovers.
Jayvon Graves, a Buffalo signee from state champion Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary, led six players in double figures for the North with 20 points. Butler-bound Naz Bohannon of Lorain added 17 points.
In the Division III-IV game, the North team edged the South 114-112.
Ethan Linder of Haviland Wayne Trace hit a go-ahead three-pointer with 1:09 remaining, then made two free throws with 7.3 seconds for the North. The Findlay signee scored 24 points and was selected MVP.
Jay Joseph of Worthington Christian rimmed out a threepointer for the South in the final second. Joseph, who will play at Mount Vernon Nazarene, had 14 points. In addition to the Athletes of the Week, The Dispatch recognizes a top performer in each sport in season: