Indiana basketball center Kel’el Ware had over a dozen workouts ahead of NBA Draft

Former Indiana basketball center Kel’el Ware has one of the highest ceilings in the 2024 NBA Draft class but some of his inconsistencies throughout his two seasons in college have given teams a bit of hesitation. That is shown by the large scale of projected landing spots heading into Wednesday’s draft.

Ware spoke with members of the media on Tuesday and said he worked out for 16 different NBA teams throughout the pre-draft process, according to Libaan Osman of the Toronto Star.

Ware has been projected as high as No. 9 in certain mock drafts in the last week, all the way to end of the first round. Most mock drafts have him landing in the late teens or early 20s.

His averages were 15.9 points, 9.9 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.9 blocks per game this season. In Big Ten play alone, Kel’el Ware averaged 16.9 points, 10.6 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game. He led the league in field goal percent at 63.2 percent shooting from the floor. His play translated into receiving All-Big Ten Second Team honors.

Ware finished this season ranked second in the Big Ten in rebounds per game, third in rebound percent, fourth in player efficiency rating, fifth in blocks per game, sixth in block percentage, eighth in total box plus/minus and 11th in offensive rating.

Ware is a former five-star prospect and McDonald’s All-American who revitalized his draft stock following a disappointing freshman season at Oregon. He was a projected lottery pick heading into the 2023 NBA Draft and then fell off all NBA Draft boards last season.

“In April of last year Coach Woodson and I sat in his office and he told me he was going to help me get to the next level, and if there is one thing we know about Woody, is that he is true to his word,” Ware told 247Sports National Analyst Travis Branham this spring. “I owe a lot to Coach Woodson and the entire coaching staff, Coach Yasir, Coach Kenya and Coach Brian.”

27 players in Indiana basketball program history have been selected in the first round and 79 players selected in the NBA Draft since the inception in 1947 — Ware looks to add to both of those lists.

The first round of the NBA Draft takes place on Wednesday at 8:00 pm ET.

SEE ALSO: As Kel’el Ware takes the next step in his journey with the NBA Draft this week, he’s not ready to just check a box — ‘Still more to prove’

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