Indiana University will rely heavily on Kel’el Ware during the 2023/24 college basketball season. The Hoosiers enter their third year under head coach Mike Woodson with Final Four hopes and the sophomore center will be crucial in their success.
At 7-foot-0, 242 pounds, Ware is a massive young man. Amanda Foster, a student reporter for the Big Ten Network+, was in charge of interviewing him after an exhibition game on Friday night.
She is only 5-foot-5. Ware has 19 inches on Foster and TOWERS over her.
When the latter initially tried to talk to the former, she had to stand up on her toes. It wasn’t working.
Ware pulled a hilarious and classy move by bending over to meet Foster on her level.
Kel’el Ware is the key to success!
Ware, a former five-star recruit from North Little Rock, Ark., was the third-ranked player at his position in the recruiting Class of 2022. He was the seventh-ranked player overall.
22 schools offered Ware out of high school, including Texas, Baylor, Auburn, Illinois, Memphis, Cal and Arkansas, among others. Indiana was not in on his initial recruitment.
In something of a surprise, Ware committed to Oregon. Upon arrival to Eugene, he played in 35-of-36 games with four starts, and averaged 6.6 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game.
And then he hit the transfer portal. Ware ultimately landed in Bloomington.
If Indiana is going to win games this season, its first-year center must be a catalyst. His 20 points and 11 rebounds on Friday cannot be expected every single night, but Ware will need to get close.
It’s not to say that the Hoosiers can’t win without him. They are a good team.
However, for Indiana to really take the next step, the seven-footer will need to make opponents feel his presence. Ware can’t be as nice to other teams as he was to Foster!