Former Indiana men’s basketball center Kel’el Ware was selected by the Miami Heat at No. 15 overall in the first round of Wednesday night’s NBA Draft. Ware is the 78th player in program history to be drafted into the NBA.
Ware, who stands a towering 7-foot, 210 pounds, is Indiana’s second first-round pick and third draftee overall under head coach Mike Woodson. In 2023, guard Jalen Hood-Schifino and forward Trayce Jackson-Davis were taken No. 17 and No. 57 overall, respectively.
After transferring from the University of Oregon in the spring of 2023, Ware started all 30 games for the Hoosiers this past season, missing the Jan. 3 loss to Nebraska due to COVID-19.
In his first — and only — year in the candy stripes, Ware thrived, leading the Hoosiers with 15.9 points, 9.9 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game while posting 15 double-doubles.
The North Little Rock, Arkansas, native was a second-team All-Big Ten selection by the media and a third-team honoree by the league’s coaches. He was also named to the Big Ten All-Defensive team.
Now, the 20-year-old Ware begins the next chapter of his basketball journey — and it’s only fitting he was accompanied by Woodson on Wednesday, marking one final special night before the two sides go their separate ways.
