7-foot Oregon transfer center Kel’el Ware sets Indiana visit

The Indiana basketball program continues to push to get transfer targets on campus and are doing so again. Oregon transfer center Kel’el Ware is set to visit Indiana.

He is expected on campus later today (Thursday). The recruiting dead period ends Thursday at Noon. Ware will join Harvard forward Chris Ledlum who is also expected on campus. 247Sports was the first to report the Ware news with a set date.

Ware played just one season at Oregon and averaged 6.6 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game. He played in 35 games last season with four starts and averaged 15.8 minutes a game. He was sixth in the Pac-12 in total blocks.

Ware had 18 points on 6-of-8 from the floor and nine rebounds against UConn in November. Ware also had 17 points and nine rebounds against Michigan State the following game. He scored in double figures in eight games and had at least two blocks in 14 games.

He was 15-of-55 from three last season (27.3 percent).

His per-40 minute stats were: 16.8 points, 10.3 rebounds and 3.3 blocks per game.

For comparison, Ware’s block rate was 8.9 percent compared to 9.0 percent for Trayce Jackson-Davis.

Kel’el Ware is a 7-foot and 215-pound center. Coming out of North Little Rock (Ark), Ware was ranked as the No. 7 overall prospect in the 2022 class. He was the No. 3 center.

Ware committed to Oregon over Texas, Arkansas and Ole Miss amongst others. Despite being from Arkansas, sources tell HoosierIllustrated.com that Arkansas is not as strong as previously thought.

He is an extremely athletic center with great length and size. Ware has a good ability to finish at the rim with his athleticism, but doesn’t have great touch and is still raw offensively. He has the ability to step out on the perimeter but hasn’t been consistent thus far.

His high motor and terrific rebounding and shot blocking ability is elite.

“As a big, just being able to come in and run the floor, post-up, I can shoot the three-ball and I can play any position they want me to,” Ware said of his game at the time of his commitment. 

Indiana was listed as a potential landing spot by 247Sports when Ware hit the portal. They broke down his potential fit.

“Indiana coach Mike Woodson is not afraid to play two big men at the same time, so pairing Ware and soon-to-be sophomore Malik Reneau would have its advantages. Xavier Johnson is trying to get a waiver to return next year, which would give Ware a proven, veteran point guard who can be a really good decision-maker in pick-and-rolls.”

The Indiana basketball program is pushing hard for front court transfers. It has secured a commitment from Ball State 6-foot-9 transfer Payton Sparks and will be receiving a visit from 6-foot-9 VCU transfer Jalen Deloach next week.

SEE ALSO: Indiana involved with Marshall transfer Micah Handlogten

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