Did Kel’el Ware solidify himself as a first-rounder in the 2024 NBA Draft at last week’s combine?
In their post-combined mock draft, ESPN’s Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo believe he did.
The duo pegged Ware as the 25th overall pick in next month’s draft, going to the New York Knicks.
This is what Givony wrote about the former IU center and his fit with New York:
When healthy, the Knicks have strong depth and versatility at nearly every position and can afford to take a couple of swings on long-term upside if they decide to keep one or both of their first-round picks. Ware has tremendous physical ability with his size, length and mobility as well as his ability to stretch the floor and protect the rim in small doses. If he can buy into playing the type of toughness and intensity that Tom Thibodeau requires, he could be a steal in this part of the draft.
If Ware is chosen in the first round, it will mark two years in a row a former IU star achieved that distinction, following Jalen Hood-Schifino a year ago. IU coach Mike Woodson joined Hood-Schifino on location at the draft in 2023.
Wherever Ware is selected, it will mark two years in a row that an IU center was taken in the draft. Trayce Jackson-Davis went to the Golden State Warriors in the second round (57th overall) a year ago, and he ended up finishing 11th in the league’s All-Rookie team voting.
A North Little Rock, Ark. native, Ware averaged a team-best 16.1 points (11th in the Big Ten), 9.8 rebounds (2nd), and 1.9 blocks (5th) per game while shooting 59.9% (178-of-297) from the field and 44.7% (17-of-38) from behind the arc.
Ware posted a program-high 14 double-doubles, eight 20-point, 10-rebound games, 18 multi-block outings, and shot 65.0% or better on at least eight made buckets in 11 games.
Other players from the Big Ten who appeared in the latest ESPN mock draft were Zach Edey (No. 14), Terrence Shannon (No. 33), Cam Christie (No. 35), and Payton Sandfort (No. 51).
Watch: Kel’el Ware discusses how Woodson, Marshall, IU basketball staff helped him
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