BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – On a bright Tuesday morning, Indiana’s towering center, Kel’el Ware, made his intentions clear by declaring for the 2024 NBA Draft. Standing at 7 feet, Ware emerged as a standout in his sophomore year with the Hoosiers. Under the guidance of coach Mike Woodson, he delivered an impressive season, boasting an average of 15.9 points, 9.9 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks across 32.2 minutes per game. His shooting accuracy was notable, with a 58.6% success rate from the field and a commendable 42.5% from beyond the arc, alongside a 63.45% free throw accuracy. These performances earned him second-team All-Big Ten honors from the media and third team from the coaches.
In the lead-up to the draft, projections about Ware’s potential selection varied. A mock draft on NBA.com, dated March 22, predicted him as the 11th overall pick. Meanwhile, ESPN’s mock draft, released on March 25, placed him further down at 26th overall. Despite these predictions, Ware has the opportunity to return to college for his junior year in 2024-25, pending the outcome of the pre-draft process. However, reports from Jeff Goodman suggest that Ware plans to leave his collegiate career behind.
Reflecting on his journey, Ware expressed deep gratitude towards Coach Woodson and the coaching staff. “Last April, Coach Woodson promised to help me reach the next level. He’s always kept his word,” Ware shared with 247Sports. He acknowledged the significant impact of the coaching team, including Coach Yasir, Coach Kenya Hunter, and Coach Brian Walsh, and expressed his enduring connection to Bloomington. “Competing in Assembly Hall and playing for the IU faithful was a privilege,” he added.
Before joining Indiana, Ware spent his freshman year at Oregon, where his playtime saw a decline over the season. Despite coming off the bench for an average of 15.8 minutes per game, he managed to score an average of 6.6 points and 4.1 rebounds. Ware was a highly touted five-star recruit and a McDonald’s All-American from North Little Rock High School.
Should Ware stay in the draft, Indiana faces the challenge of filling seven out of thirteen available scholarships for the 2024-25 season. With Xavier Johnson and Anthony Walker no longer eligible, and CJ Gunn, Kaleb Banks, and Payton Sparks entering the transfer portal, the team is in a period of transition.
As it stands, the roster for the upcoming season includes Trey Galloway, Anthony Leal, Malik Reneau, Mackenzie Mgbako, Gabe Cupps, and Jakai Newton, each with varying years of eligibility remaining, alongside seven open slots waiting to be filled.