Indiana basketball center Kel’el Ware tabbed as first-rounder in another 2024 NBA mock draft: ‘The hope is that Ware can fulfill his potential’

Indiana basketball center Kel’el Ware has shown up on another 2024 NBA mock draft, and once again he’s a projected first-round selection.

According to The Ringer’s Kevin O’Conner, Ware is slotted as the No. 21 overall pick. 

“Ware was an elite high school recruit who attended Oregon for his freshman season, but he struggled to earn minutes and underwhelmed when he did,” O’Connor wrote. “The 7-footer’s transfer to Indiana will provide him with a dramatically different role, filling the shoes of All-American Trayce Jackson-Davis. The hope is that Ware can fulfill his potential as a vertical interior presence by spacing the floor on offense and blocking shots on defense. It all starts with effort, though. Ware needs to play with heart on a nightly basis.”

As a freshman at Oregon, 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.

The talent is there, but the inconsistencies and question around motor sticks with him.

“I didn’t see it in AAU. I didn’t see it at Oregon,” Field of 68 co-founder Jeff Goodman said of Ware’s potential. “The one thing I’ll say and we have to give Mike Woodson a ton of credit for is how Trayce (Jackson-Davis) developed under him. Look at what he did for him … that staff did a really good job with Trayce, can they do similar things with some of those bigs, especially Ware who has a knock of not always playing hard consistently … Kel’el needs to grow up a little bit. He’s been told how good he was for a couple years and hadn’t done a whole lot for that.”

Watch: Highlights of Indiana basketball center Kel’el Ware showing off unique skillset for 7-footer on day one of Nike Skills Academy

In a four-game stretch at the Phil Knight Invitational in November, however, Ware posted averages of 12.5 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game. He shot 51.4 percent from the floor. He had 18 points and nine rebounds against UConn. Followed by a 17-point and nine-rebound game against Michigan State. And then finally, 13 points and seven rebounds against Villanova.

“Kel’el is an extremely gifted player who will bring a lot to our program. He is a tremendous athlete whose skill level in all facets of the game will make us better,” Indiana basketball head coach Mike Woodson said. “He’s a rim protector with great size and length, he runs the floor so well, he can shoot and he’s someone who competed and won at a high level in high school. We welcome he and his family to Bloomington and to Hoosier Nation .”

Ware was ranked as the No. 7 overall prospect in the 2022 class and the No. 2 overall transfer this offseason. He was a projected NBA lottery pick coming into college.

“To prove everybody wrong. About everything people were saying about me last year,” Ware said earlier this summer. “I just feel like I needed to get stronger and needed another year of college to develop my body more.

SEE ALSO: Transfer commit Kel’el Ware has ‘all of the tools’ to be successful at Indiana

Make sure to follow Hoosier Illustrated on Twitter @Indiana_FRN, Facebook and YouTube to stay up to date on all of the news, updates and coverage of Indiana University athletics.