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Kel’el Ware looks back fondly on Indiana transfer decision as NBA chapter of basketball career begins

Andrew Olson

By Andrew Olson

Published:

Kel’el Ware is on the move for the third consecutive year, and it’s the most exciting move of his life.

The Sherwood, Arkansas native began his college career at Oregon. After spending the 2022-23 with the Ducks, he entered the transfer portal.

Ware landed at Indiana for the 2023-24. In his lone season as a Hoosier, he was named to the Big Ten All-Defensive Team and made second-team All-B1G.

After a year in Bloomington, Ware is taking his talents to South Beach. The Hoosier standout was selected with the No. 15 overall pick in Wednesday’s Round 1 of the 2024 NBA Draft.

“It was a surreal feeling,” Ware said of learning his draft fate. “I mean, especially just sitting in that chair waiting, just to figure out which team was going to get me. For them to pick me, a lot of emotions were just going through me. I’m definitely blessed.”

The Heat were impressed by what they saw from Ware. Though Indiana’s season did not go as planned, Ware had a solid year. He was just a hair shy of averaging a double-double at 15.9 points and 9.9 rebounds per contest. Ware shot 58.6% from the field and 42.5% from 3-point range.

Ware recognizes that his stop at Indiana helped get him to Miami. In the age of NIL, many players make transfer decisions based on where the biggest offers are. Ware was basketball-minded when he chose the Hoosiers.

“A lot of people go into the transfer portal for money,” Ware told reporters. “I went in there for the right fit and I found the right fit. That definitely helped my career. Going into my sophomore season, actually getting to know the coaches. Just learning more things about the team just before I made the decision.”

As a first-round draft pick, Ware can say his decision to transfer to Indiana truly paid off.

Andrew Olson

A former Florida beat reporter, Andrew writes for the Saturday Tradition News Desk.