‘They have a special place in my heart’: Kel’el Ware thankful for Indiana, Mike Woodson for pushing him ‘out of comfort zone’

Mike Woodson’s pitch regarding ‘why Indiana basketball’ was easy when it came to recruiting Kel’el Ware. It was — ‘look at what I did with Trayce Jackson-Davis’. It was something that resonated with the 7-footer.

Ware was coming off of a disappointing freshman season at Oregon that saw him fall off all NBA Draft boards after being a projected lottery pick heading into his first year. So, he knew a change was needed — and so was getting out of his comfort zone.

“I was able to see coach Woodson helped him (Trayce Jackson-Davis) out,” Ware said at the NBA Combine. “And wanted to see what he could do for me.”

“Everyday they pushed me to keep going to get out of my comfort zone and play through my mistakes. The whole coaching staff did. They allowed me to be comfortable on the court and like I said play through my mistakes.”

It worked.

Related: ‘When you feel stronger, you feel nobody can stop you’: Kel’el Ware credits Clif Marshall with a large portion of his development with Indiana basketball

Ware went from an afterthought who lacked a high motor to an All-Big Ten Second Team player who averaged a double-double in conference play.

His numbers stand out, as well. He averaged 15.9 points, 9.9 rebounds, 1.9 blocks, 1.5 assists and shot 56.8 percent from the field on the season.

What led to his increased production was the consistent effort with the little things and playing hard every possession — something that sometimes is an afterthought for high-profile athletes.

“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,” An NBA scout told HoosierIllustrated.com. “ … I thought he did a nice job playing the game and doing the right things more often.”

The next step in Ware’s career is now underway at the NBA Combine this week. His skillset is not like many other 7-footers. The combination of his athleticism, soft touch, shot blocking and overall offensive ability has him graded out as a first-round selection in this draft.

Through the first day of testing, Ware showcased his ability.

He was among the top big men in 3/4 court sprint, vertical jump and three-point shooting. He timed at 3.29 seconds and had a 36-inch vertical jump. He also hit 40 percent of his 3s. His ability to shoot the ball will be something to monitor throughout individual team workouts heading into the NBA Draft.

He shot 42.5 percent from three last season while making 17 on the season. It was a 15 percent increase from his freshman year.

While that will be an added boost, Ware knows what his strengths are.

“I’m able to pick and pop, pick and roll, be that lob threat. I’m not slow so I’m able to move my feet, defend the perimeter and defend guards,” Ware said. ” … be able to go out there and compete, be that presence I need to be on the court.”

So, as Kel’el Ware looks back on that initial conversation with Mike Woodson and Indiana, he knows he made the right choice coming to Bloomington.

“It was a 10 (out of 10),” Ware said of his time at Indiana. “I definitely — after going to Bloomington, they have a special place in my heart.”

“You see where I’m at now. He (Mike Woodson) did a great job.”

SEE ALSO: 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

Make sure to follow Hoosier Illustrated, part of the Full Ride Network, on Twitter @Indiana_FRN, Facebook and YouTube to stay up to date on all of the news, updates and coverage of Indiana University athletics. You can also listen to the Talking’ Bout the Hoosiers podcast on Spotify.

Looking for a place to get more Indiana content? Hoosier Illustrated has partnered with Tom Brady’s company ‘Autograph’ to streamline our coverage, so you can continue to do what you do best – follow IU sports. Use the CODE: Indianafr to get started today. For more info, you can start here.