Indiana sophomore Kel’el Ware will enter the 2024 NBA Draft, per Travis Branham of 247Sports.
The center had a standout season with the Hoosiers under former NBA coach Mike Woodson after transferring from Oregon. Listed at 7-foot-0 and 210 pounds, Ware averaged 15.9 points, 9.9 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks per game, shooting 58.6 percent from the field and 42.5 percent from 3. It was the season he was expected to have as a freshman after leaving North Little Rock as a top-10 high school recruit.
Ware is currently projected to be a first-round pick but could see himself rising into the lottery.
Kel’el Ware Declares for 2024 NBA Draft
The 2024 NBA Draft class isn’t particularly strong.
This is one of the reasons that international intrigue and under-the-radar prospects are jetting in and out of the projected lottery. Indeed, Ware himself could find himself in the lottery because of this. There aren’t a dozen prospects that are definitively better than him.
In a draft like this, teams are as likely to draft for fit as they are to make their selections based on potential. Ware, long and athletic with the ability to make game-changing plays on the interior or beyond the arc, fits the player profile a lot of teams look for with their big men. With that said, comparing him to the top center prospects in this draft class leads to a favorable differentiation.
Kel’el Ware vs. Alexandre Sarr
The top-rated center in the 2024 NBA Draft class appears to be Alexandre Sarr.
Projected to be a top-three pick, Sarr is a 7-foot-1 defensive dynamo with guard skills. He’s a more fluid athlete than Ware, making him a better defender in space. He also has shown the ability to make plays off-the-dribble, and Ware hasn’t. However, Ware has a sturdier frame, better touch on his outside jumper, and could have more potential as a low-post scorer.
Statistically, Ware is the much better deep threat, with Sarr shooting 27.6 percent from 3 last season.
Kel’el Ware vs. Donovan Clingan
UConn’s Donovan Clingan. A consensus lottery pick throughout the 2023-24 season, is a mountain in the middle. 7-foot-2 and 265 pounds, he’s the traditional big man prospect. He does his damage in the paint, whether on offense or defense. His big body clears space on screens and box-outs.
Yet, Clingan doesn’t impress as a scorer, while Ware has legitimate upside in this area. Clingan’s not a particularly fluid athlete, seeming to lumber around. Ware isn’t flipping his hips like Evan Mobley but he’s a coordinated athlete. Clingan’s made two 3-pointers total all season, while Ware has made 17.
To put it in better perspective, Ware’s made nearly three times as many 3s as Clingan’s attempted.
Kel’el Ware vs. Kyle Filipowski
Duke sophomore Kyle Filipowski is the most versatile center in the 2024 NBA Draft class. Listed at 7-foot-0 and 248 pounds, Filipowski averages 16.6 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.6 blocks, and 1.2 steals per game while shooting 34.6 percent from 3. A three-level scorer and relatively mobile athlete, all Filipowski lacks are upper-echelon physical tools.
Ware has a bit more vertical explosiveness than Filipowski and likely a longer wingspan. At the next level, marginal physical differences can legitimately be a difference-maker on any possession. Ware’s also been a more efficient outside shooter than Filipowski. Ultimately, his game is simpler than Filipowski’s. However, with many teams wanting their centers to play simply and effectively, that could play in his favor.
