Kel’el Ware, Payton Sparks, Anthony Walker discuss decision to transfer to Indiana basketball

After a disappointing finish to the 2022-23 season, Indiana basketball was forced to rebuild its roster after losing four starters, including All-American Trayce Jackson-Davis and Jalen Hood-Schifino, who was a first round pick. As a result, Mike Woodson was very busy over the offseason trying to reload his roster in the transfer portal.

In addition to the top 20 recruiting class, Woodson was able to add transfers Kel’el Ware, Payton Sparks, and Anthony Walker to the roster. The three transfers are expected to play an important role in the success of the 2023-24 team for Indiana.

Kel’el Ware was the highlight of the three this offseason when he transferred from Oregon to Indiana. Ware was the 2nd highest rated transfer in the country according to 247Sports, only behind former Michigan center Hunter Dickinson.

The 7-foot center has a ton of upside and has even been projected as a first round pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. Ware averaged 6.6 points-per-game and 4.1 rebounds-per-game while playing 15.8 minutes-per-game in his one year with Oregon. While the talent and upside are there for Ware, questions surrounding his work-ethic and motor have held him back at the college level.

Payton Sparks was the first player to transfer to Indiana when he made the two-hour trip from Muncie to Bloomington. The Winchester native was ranked as a 3-star transfer and committed to play for the Hoosiers just 13 days after he originally entered the transfer portal on March 16.

In two seasons with Ball State, the 6-foot-9 240-pound center was extremely effective, averaging 13.4 points-per-game and 8.6 rebounds-per-game in 62 games with the Cardinals.

Anthony Walker was the last of the three to commit to playing for Mike Woodson. The 3-star transfer committed to Indiana after spending his first four seasons with Miami. Walker played in 125 games for the Hurricanes, averaging 4.9 points-per-game while playing 15.1 minutes-per-game.

Walker was also a member of the Hurricanes team that eliminated the Hoosiers from the NCAA tournament last spring. Walker had 4 points and 2 rebounds in 13 minutes against Indiana.

Here is what all three said about their commitment to Indiana.

Kel’el Ware

When Kel’el Ware entered the transfer portal in the Spring, he was looking for an opportunity and that’s a big reason why he chose to play for Indiana.

“You know Trayce [Jackson-Davis] left so that spot was just wide open,” Ware said about his decision to come to Indiana. “So I took my opportunity.”

Ware saw the hole Jackson-Davis left in the Indiana roster and he felt he had a great opportunity to fill that role, but it wasn’t the only reason he committed to Indiana.

“With Woody having that NBA background and playing in the NBA, I feel like that would be great for me to be able to soak in what he has to tell me.”

Ware’s goal of playing in the NBA is clear and it was another factor in his decision to play for Mike Woodson. The transition from Oregon to Indiana has not been too difficult for Ware.

“At Oregon I was the only freshman that came in there, so that was a bit rough,” Ware said on the differences between his transition to Oregon and Bloomington. “Here there are a lot of newcomers, it’s not just me, so I liked it.”

While Ware’s NBA ambitions are clear, he has quickly bought in to the win-now focus of Mike Woodson and the Indiana basketball program.

“Their (Indiana basketball) win now mentality is coming on to me now,” Ware said. “I’m getting used to everything and enjoying it … I can give more.”

Payton Sparks

Payton Sparks was a fan of Indiana basketball long before he joined the team and his commitment to the program was a dream come true for the Winchester, Indiana native.

“I did grow up an Indiana fan. … [It’s a] real dream,” Sparks said to me during Indiana Basketball’s Institutional Media Day. “… All time dream, just being able to put on the jersey now. I’m excited.”

Sparks will put on the uniform he has watched so many other IU greats wear before him completing a dream/goal of his.

“You just seen everybody play for [Indiana]; Cody Zeller, Victor Oladipo, Jordan Hulls, who is also on the staff,” Sparks said. “Just seeing that and the love everybody has for Indiana. I couldn’t pass it up.”

Anthony Walker

“I would say Woodson is the biggest part. I’ve always been a fan of Woodson, and the teams he’s coached and the players he’s coached in his years,” Walker said to me during Indiana Basketball’s Institutional Media Day. “I think he’s one of the most prestigious people to ever be apart of this sport. So being able to learn from him and being able to be under his wings one year was definitely something I wanted to be apart of.”

Woodson was not the only reason Walker chose to come to Bloomington, as his relationship with another veteran on the team played a factor.

“And of course, point guard X. I’ve known [Xavier Johnson] for the last four or five years because we played in the ACC together,” Walker said. “Them two guys made it feel like home for me and I just wanted to be apart of it.”

The transition from Miami to Bloomington has been made easy for Walker because of his relationship with his teammates and the coaching staff.

“They made it real easy for me to come,” Walker said about the move. The coaching staff welcomed me with open arms. The players welcomed me with open-arms, it was not a hard transition at all.”

While Walker calls Bloomington home now, his victory over the Hoosiers in the NCAA tournament last season is not something he’s forgetting anytime soon.

“We joke about it all the time, trust me,” Walker said about beating Indiana in the tournament. “It’s something I’ll never let them forget, but now I’m a Hoosier, now I’m on the good side.”

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