Kel’el Ware went back to basics at IU — doing ‘the little things’ & ‘the right things’ unlocking his potential. Up next is the NBA, looking to prove himself even more

There was no question what the knock on Kel’el Ware was when he arrived in Bloomington this past offseason. His toughness, motor and desire to play at a high level were all issues previously and the choice to join the Indiana basketball program was one that was going to come with a great deal of hard work if he wanted to get the most out of his second year in college. That’s exactly what head coach Mike Woodson told him and Ware said he was up for the challenge.

“Well, when I recruited that young man I told him, you cannot go back and get what happened the year before. You can’t,” Woodson said of Kel’el Ware at Indiana basketball media day this offseason. “The word is out; they knocked you and said, hey, you’re lazy, you don’t work hard, and if you make a commitment to me, that’s got to change.

“I’m not always the easiest coach to play for, but I’m in your corner and I’m fair and I want what’s best for you and my ballclub. He made the commitment to me, and I’m going to push him to play at a higher level to help us win basketball games.”

Consistently throughout the season Ware was Indiana’s best player. There was no doubt about it.

Whether it was scoring, defending, rebounding or blocking shots — Ware reminded NBA scouts why he was so highly recruited and projected just 12 months prior.

In his one year at Indiana, he averaged 15.9 points, 9.9 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.9 blocks per game in 30 appearances. He started every game he appeared in and was an All-Big Ten Second Team selection.

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.

“I think he did (changed the narrative) — had a really nice season and answered a lot of questions coming from his Oregon days,” an NBA scout told HoosierIllustrated.com. “It was really nice to see him come out and play, produce and do so at a high level consistently.”

As a freshman, Ware averaged just 12.5 minutes a game in conference play in the Pac-12. He was essentially taken out of the main rotation. He saw 10 or less minutes in a game in 10 of his 19 league games.

At Indiana, he averaged 32.7 minutes a game in Big Ten games and played 30+ minutes in 15 of the 18 conference games he appeared in.

What led to his increased production though was the consistent effort with the little things.

“He figured out how to be on the court and stay consistent, not just with the flashy plays but doing all the little things to help the team win,” said the NBA scout. “Like rolling hard every time even if you don’t get the ball but creates some room for somebody else. He did a nice job protecting the rim this year, did a good job rebounding. Some of the not so flashy things. Like at Oregon he may hit a three or block a shot and then get taken out and leave people wondering why.

“I thought he did a nice job playing the game and doing the right things more often.”

‘Doing all the little things’ more often led to Ware finishing 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.

“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 this season. “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 had 10 games with at least 20 points and five with at least 25 points.

He finished with 15 double-doubles and 16 games with double figure rebounds. Ware had zero double-digit rebounding games as a freshman. He also didn’t have a 20-point game last year.

As a 7-footer, Ware is highly skilled. That skill allowed him to score in numerous ways at the college level. But, what will transfer and translate in the NBA?

“He has great natural touch around the basket and even with his jump shot. With his big catch radius and size he’s going to have an advantage in the NBA in those short roller type situations where he’s going to have to hit a floater or finish over the top of a help side defender. That’s going to be his bread and butter,” the NBA scout said.

Right now Kel’el Ware is slotted anywhere from late lottery to late first round. There is still a great deal of raw talent with him but his one season with Mike Woodson and the Indiana basketball program definitely rejuvenated him and revitalized his NBA potential. That’s clear.

He still has a lot to work on however, everyone does.

“He has to get stronger and play with more overall force on both ends of the court,” one scout said. ” … he’ll improve his stock by showing he can shoot the ball consistently (because of his size).”

Ware played his best basketball over the last month of the season when he averaged 18.2 points, while shooting 63 percent from the floor, 10.5 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game in the final 13 games. He averaged 34 minutes per game over that span as well.

Looking back at Ware’s lone season at Indiana — that promise that Woodson and Ware made to each other last summer came to fruition.

But, despite the year he had at Indiana and likelihood he hears his name called in the first round of the NBA Draft next month, Kel’el Ware is nowhere near finished.

Indiana gave him the opportunity to search for that newfound desire and fire. He found it.

“It’s always still more to prove,” Ware said late this season. “So I don’t feel like I’ve proven myself just yet.”

The NBA Combine, which Ware is invited to, begins on Sunday May 12.

The NBA Draft takes place on June 26.

SEE ALSO: Mackenzie Mgbako flashed potential in year one. Coming back as a sophomore, it’s about elevating his game — What he needs to do to ‘put it together’

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