[The following scouting report is part of a series on potential 2024 draft prospects from Sports Business Classroom alumni.]

Kel’el Ware
Frame: 7’0” 242 lbs
Position: Center
School: Indiana
2024 Draft Age: 20
Stats via sports-reference.com

Offense

Ware’s offensive abilities have drastically improved in his first season under Coach Mike Woodson. His stand-out offensive skill is an elite touch around the rim. He converts 74.1 percent of his shots at the rim (via Barttorvik.com) even though he typically faces multiple inside defenders. Ware also has excellent hands, which makes him a much easier pick-and-roll partner for the ballhandler. 

Ware is also capable in the post. When not setting screens, he often works hard down low to get open and create space to go to work. He does an excellent job at sealing his defender, making it easy for the passer to feed him. Once he gets the ball, he is very aggressive and calculated. When he has the size advantage, Ware will not hesitate to simply charge through his defender, leading to his 4.5 free throw attempts per game. He also has an effective spin move and turnaround jumper that appear routine and effortless.

Although a highly skilled interior scorer, Ware has also shown the ability to knock down the three-point shot. He was a serious threat off the pick-and-pop, shooting 42.5 percent on 1.3 attempts per game. 

Ware has shown promise as a playmaker. While not too often, he will throw an impressive pass out of the high post or off a give-and-go.  

Ware’s offensive versatility could provide him with a long professional career, but where he needs to grow is consistency of effort. When he gets involved on offense, he can look unstoppable, but there are stretches where he will simply go through the motions, set weak screens, put little effort into offensive rebounds, and put up low-percentage shots.

Defense

Ware’s defensive impact is primarily in the paint. He excels at putting himself in the right place at the right time and being very disciplined–rarely getting block-happy and consistently jumping straight up with the attacker. His defensive efficiency around the rim is also shown in the numbers, as he blocked 1.9 shots per game while only fouling twice per game on the season. 

While his defensive discipline keeps him out of foul trouble, it can sometimes become an issue. Ware avoids fouling and body contact around the rim, letting his opponent go straight up over the top of him without a shot contest. This also becomes an issue when rebounding. He has good instincts as a defensive rebounder but doesn’t battle for them.

Defending the pick-and-roll, Ware has his high and low moments. His 7’7″ wingspan allows him to mitigate the passing lane between the ballhandler and the roller. Still, his overall ability to read the play out of the pick-and-roll is subpar, allowing back doors by the roller and/or overhelping on the ballhandler.

His defensive versatility is a limited part of his game. He struggles to defend in space and keep up laterally when stuck defending in isolation. Ware must improve to avoid becoming a target for opposing offenses in the NBA. 

Looking Ahead

Ware’s most significant question mark is his motor and care for the game. It was his primary concern with Oregon in his freshman season, and he has seemingly gotten better under Woodson. However, there are still noticeable moments where he goes through the motions and shows little emotion. According to Woodson, Ware has come a long way since initially arriving in Indiana. The question is whether this can translate under a new role in the NBA where the spotlight will not necessarily be on him. 

Ware’s offensive ceiling is very high, but that’s in jeopardy if he doesn’t consistently show a love for the game. The moments Ware played his best with the Hoosiers, such as his 27-point, 11-rebound, 5-block outing versus Wisconsin, were when he played with emotion and got fired up after tough buckets. 

Ultimately, his career trajectory may depend greatly on who drafts him and how much effort the team picks him up puts into his development. If he has a coaching staff who cares about bringing the best out of him, he could shine, but if he is treated with little attention, it will be hard to bring the love of the game out of him.