Former 5-star and Oregon transfer center Kel’el Ware commits to Indiana

Indiana has received a commitment from Oregon transfer center Kel’el Ware, he announced on Instagram on Monday. The 7-foot center took a visit to Indiana last week.

Kel’el Ware has three years of eligibility remaining. 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 in the class.

As a freshman, Ware averaged 6.6 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game. He played in 35 games with four starts in 15.8 minutes a game. He was sixth in the Pac-12 in total blocks.

Ware was 15-of-55 from three (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.

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 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.

Coming into the 2022-23 season, Ware was projected as a lottery pick. ESPN NBA Draft analysts Jonathan Givony and Mike Schmitz broke down Ware’s game this summer.

“Ware is one of the biggest players physically in this class, a 7-footer with a well-proportioned frame, a huge standing reach and impressive quickness getting off his feet. Ware has excellent hands, soft touch out to the 3-point line and impressive body control and dexterity as a finisher, giving him significant upside to grow into offensively. He also shows excellent instincts as a shot-blocker, covering ground fluidly and making a high impact with his length when he’s in position to make a play.

“He’s still at an early stage of development, walking around defensively much more than you’d like to see and slow to react to things happening on the floor. Ware’s shot selection, decision-making and competitiveness are still a work in progress, as he doesn’t quite know what his limitations are and can be fairly mistake-prone on both ends of the floor.”

Ware is ranked the No. 2 overall transfer in the 247Sports portal rankings.

“Kel’el Ware is supremely talented and despite having a rocky season for the Ducks, he is only a freshman with immense potential,” 247Sports National Analyst Travis Branham said. “He’s a seven-footer with great length and fluidity to couple with a tantalizing amount of skill.

“He can switch on the perimeter, protect the rim at a high level and score in a variety of ways when his motor is kicked into full gear. Ware will be sought after by all the top programs in the country and could be one of the most impactful players in all of college basketball and play his way into the 2024 NBA Draft lottery.”

Kel’el Ware is the second transfer that the Indiana basketball program added this offseason. He joins 6-foot-9 forward from Ball State Payton Sparks.

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