‘He could be a steal in this part of the draft’: Where former Indiana basketball center Kel’el Ware is projected in post-combine ESPN mock draft

Kel’el Ware joined the Indiana basketball program last offseason with one goal in mind — getting back on NBA Draft boards. His play this past season solidified him as a first-round selection in next months NBA Draft. Now it’s just a matter of where he lands in the first round, not if.

Ware averaged 15.9 points, 9.9 rebounds, 1.9 blocks, 1.5 assists and shot 56.8 percent from the field on the season en route to an All-Big Ten Second Team selection.

He also shot 42.5 percent from three last season while making 17 on the season. It was a 15 percent increase from his freshman year at Oregon.

While Ware didn’t take part in the scrimmage part of the NBA Combine last week, he showcased why so many scouts are so intrigued with him. His measurements and testing set a combine-record among centers.

So, where does that land Ware in the latest ESPN mock draft by Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo? They have Kel’el Ware coming in at No. 25 overall to the New York Knicks.

“When healthy, the Knicks have strong depth and versatility at nearly every position and can afford to take a couple of swings on long-term upside if they decide to keep one or both of their first-round picks,” Givony wrote. “Ware has tremendous physical ability with his size, length and mobility as well as his ability to stretch the floor and protect the rim in small doses. If he can buy into playing the type of toughness and intensity that Tom Thibodeau requires, he could be a steal in this part of the draft.”

Related: ‘They have a special place in my heart’: Kel’el Ware thankful for Indiana, Mike Woodson for pushing him ‘out of comfort zone’

Because of Ware’s skillset and size, his ceiling is incredibly high. That’s never been in question. It’s always been the motor, desire and toughness that come into questions. Those are the intangibles that Ware really honed in on this season with Indiana.

“I think he did (changed the narrative) — had a really nice season and answered a lot of questions coming from his Oregon days,” an NBA scout told HoosierIllustrated.com. “It was really nice to see him come out and play, produce and do so at a high level consistently.

“He figured out how to be on the court and stay consistent, not just with the flashy plays but doing all the little things to help the team win,” said the NBA scout. “ … I thought he did a nice job playing the game and doing the right things more often.”

Now it’s on to individual workouts for Ware and over the next few weeks is when he will really be able to shine.

The NBA Draft takes place on June 27.

SEE ALSO: The five best fits for former Indiana basketball player Kel’el Ware in the NBA

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