Kel’el Ware, numerous Indiana basketball targets highlight Nike Skills Academy roster

Indiana basketball center Kel’el Ware will be attending the Nike Skills Academy on the Nike campus in Portland, Oregon this week. The event is invite-only and runs from Aug. 7-12.

Ware will get the opportunity to train alongside some of the best past and present NBA players and coaches. The Nike Skills Academy is a development camp that features some of the top college players and high schoolers across the entire country. During the camp, players take place in drills, off-court workouts, film sessions and scrimmages.

Ware is one of 16 collegiate players to take part in the camp. In total, there are 34 total men’s participants, including high schoolers.

“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,” IU 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 .”

The 7-foot-1 center joined the Indiana basketball program this offseason after transferring from Oregon. In his lone season at Oregon, Ware averaged 6.6 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game.

Earlier this summer he was part of 35 participants for the 2023 USA U19 Men’s National Team Training Camp before an ankle injury forced him to miss the training camp.

Ware was a projected lottery pick in the 2023 NBA Draft heading into his freshman season. After returning to college, he is still projected a first round selection in numerous mock drafts for next year.

“Every NBA team limited to two reps only each session,” wrote Jonathan Givony of Draft Express.

Along with Ware are three key Indiana basketball recruiting targets. Those include 2024 five-star wing Liam McNeeley and five-star guard Boogie Fland, as well as 2026 projected five-star forward Tyran Stokes.

McNeeley and Fland are top priorities for Indiana in the 2024 recruiting class. Both have taken official visits to Indiana and McNeeley has a return visit set for September. 

Indiana basketball head coach Mike Woodson is expected to visit Fland next month as well during a speaking engagement at Fland’s high school.

SEE ALSO: Indiana basketball labeled ‘team to beat’ for 2024 top-10 prospect

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