[IUFR] How Kel'el Ware Has Played Himself Into a 1st Round Draft Pick
Coach Adragna takes a look at Kel'el Ware's game and what he's done to play himself back into being drafted in the 1st round of the NBA Draft.
When Mike Woodson got Kel’el Ware’s commitment this offseason, Hoosier Nation was immediately excited.
Indiana had secured one of the best prospects in the portal.
But there was no promise of production from Ware. He was coming off an up-and-down season at Oregon where he started well, eventually found himself in Dana Altman’s doghouse, and ultimately averaged 15.8 mpg, 6.6 ppg, and 4.1 rpg on 45% shooting from the floor.
It’s been well documented why things went south for Ware up in Oregon — namely that being so far away from home was a great fit for the 7-footer, especially one the assistant coach who recruited him left before the season started. The hope was that a fresh start with the coach who helped fully unlock Trayce Jackson-Davis’ greatness would get Ware’s career back on the right track.
In a season marred by mediocre play, Kel’el Ware has been one of the bright spots for Indiana. He’s the Hoosiers’ second-leading scorer, leading rebounder, and is shooting the ball well from all areas on the floor.
So what has NBA teams intrigued enough by Ware that he’s back in first round mock drafts now? Let’s dive in.
Ware’s Season at Indiana
Before Ware’s freshman year, it seemed like a foregone conclusion he would be an NBA draft pick in 2023. He had the size and the skills that translate to being an NBA big.
But those skills didn’t translate right away at Oregon. So what has he showcased at Indiana that NBA teams like to see? Plenty, which we’ll dive into momentarily.
It should be noted that just because this post is filled with Ware’s positive traits, and he’s likely to be a first round pick, it doesn’t mean he’s without his demonstrated question marks.
Ware has struggled at times against players his own size, especially when they are physical with him. Think about the UConn game against Donovan Clingan. He will need to get stronger and physically tougher in the post.
He also has a tendency to bring the ball down instead of keeping it high, which can leave him at risk for turnovers.
He also isn’t always the quickest decision-maker with the ball.
But no prospect is perfect, and a lot of what Ware struggles with are things that can be improved with additional weight training and instruction. It’s the attributes he has that can’t be taught, and some of the unique skills he brings at his size, that make him a surefire NBA draft prospect.
Let’s dive in now to the greatest strengths Ware has shown so far this season, in addition to his rebounding, which has been by far the best and most consistent on Indiana’s roster.
Pick and Roll Threat
It’s no secret that ball screens are prevalent in the NBA. As a 7’, mobile big man, Ware is a threat rolling to the basket. What NBA teams like to see is that he has a wide radius to throw a lob to and he’s not afraid to send it home with authority.
Rim Protection
Defensively, Ware covers a lot of ground with his height and length (both things NBA teams look for). He does a nice job protecting the rim and being a defensive anchor. Being able to protect the rim without fouling is also a big plus. Ware only commits 2.6 fouls per 40 minutes.
In addition to Ware’s ability in the PnR and rim protection, he also runs the floor well, can be effective as a post scorer, and has shown the ability to knock down outside shots.
Let’s dive in to those skills now.
Keep reading with a 7-day free trial
Subscribe to The Assembly Call to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.