Indiana basketball center Kel’el Ware among players named that could potentially ‘impact the game beyond their draft number’ in NBA

Indiana basketball center Kel’el Ware has been an extremely bright spot for the Hoosiers in his first season with the program and because of that, he’s likely off to the NBA come the end of the season.

Ware came to Indiana after one season at Oregon — a night and day difference in experience.

As a freshman, Ware averaged just 6.6 points and 4.1 rebounds in 15.8 minutes a game. He shot just 45.7 percent from the floor and 27.3 percent from three. He had just eight games with 10+ points and didn’t register a double-double.

This season has been a massive turnaround and one that NBA scouts had been following because of the natural talent that he has. Ware is averaging 15.6 points, 9.5 rebounds and 1.8 blocks in 31.5 minutes a game.

His field goal rate has jumped to 58.7 percent percent and his three point percent is now 43.8. He has eight 20+ point games with 21 of 25 games played with at least 10 points. He also has 12 double-doubles.

So, for a player who was a projected lottery pick coming into his freshman year — where does he land now? Most mock drafts list Ware in the mid to late 20s in the first round.

Related: ‘He had a man’s game’: Indiana basketball takes down Wisconsin behind dominant performance from Kel’el Ware

According to 247Sports Director of Scouting Adam Finkelstein, Ware could become one of the players in the 2024 NBA Draft that ‘impact the game beyond their draft number‘.

“Kel’el Ware is making undeniable strides this year at Indiana (even as the team has struggled to live up to expectations) and drawing the attention of NBA scouts in the process. But does he belong on this list? Meaning, is he cut from the same cloth as those big men who have exceeded expectations upon reaching the league in the last two years,” Finkelstein wrote. “From a player archetype standpoint, there are similarities as his size, length and relative athletic coordination that gives him the potential to be a lob threat and rim protector. Of course, his shooting potential and rare ball skills for his size give him a chance to grow beyond the role at hand.

“Physically, though, the answer is probably “No”. He’s still filling out his frame. He’s working to get stronger, more comfortable playing through contact and he’s trying to answer questions about his motor. As a result, he doesn’t project to be quite as NBA-ready as the other players on this list. Even though he’s shown growth as of late, he’s still considered a high-risk/high-reward prospect.”

Ware is as skilled as they come when referencing true centers. He has the ability to impact the game at a high level on the defensive end as a shot blocker and is able to score at the rim. While he has struggled with more physical and stronger defenders, he’s still found ways to utilize his strengths and put together effective performances.

His ball skills offensively are parts to his game that have NBA scouts intrigued. Whether it’s his ability to handle the ball and attack off of the dribble. Or fadeaway in the paint. Or step out and be a threat from the perimeter, Ware’s skillset will translate to the next level.

The questions are; does and will his motor and toughness — the two parts of his game that have been the biggest questions in his two seasons at the college level — be maintained at the next level.

“I think when we brought him on board we didn’t know what we were going to get. Really didn’t,” Indiana basketball head coach Mike Woodson said last week following Ware’s 27-point performance.”We knew he was very skilled and the word was that he didn’t work hard. I thought after the first month of us getting after him a little bit that kind of picked up and it was nice carryover into the season.”

Ware has been able to silence the critics when it came to his effort throughout this season. It’s shown just by his ability to impact the game on the glass and defensively.

He has five games with at least 14 rebounds and 15 games with at least two blocks.

“Well, it’s the second effort. When we first got him, that didn’t even exist in terms of him making second and third efforts to try to go get the basketball. A lot of it was he just hadn’t been taught and pushed to do it,” Woodson said. “I mean, it’s like night and day from the time we got him to where he is today in terms of going hard and understanding that you just can’t take possessions off.”

Ware is also averaging a double-double in Big Ten play with 16.1 points, 10.1 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game. He’s also shooting 62 percent from the floor.

“I would say I’m more in a groove now with Coach Woodson giving me that role where he trusts me enough to just go make the play and attack the basket, score, even throw it out to my teammates and just play smart on the court,” Ware said earlier this season. “As long as I’m playing hard and just giving them that, then we should be good.”

In the Big Ten, Ware ranks second in defensive rebound rate, second in effective field goal rate, third in rebounds per game, fourth in player efficiency rating, sixth in blocks and seventh in offensive rating among other top-10 rankings.

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