SLC Dunk - 2024 NBA Draft Scouting Profile: Kel’el Ware

[Clint Nielson]

Photo by David Berding/Getty Images

Kel’el Ware is a prime candidate for the Jazz to consider with their late first and early second round draft picks

Kel’el Ware is a 7-foot, stretch center who has played collegiately for Oregon and Indiana. While his freshman year with the Ducks was a disappointment, his sophomore year with the Hoosiers has proven he deserves a chance in the NBA. Kel’el’s ability to shoot while being effective at standard center skills, like defending the paint, getting rebounds, and scoring inside, makes him a near lock to be drafted. Being a month removed from being a teenager (turned 20 in April) means he has the potential to improve.

Where he is projected to be drafted makes him a prime candidate for the Jazz to select with their late first-round (29) or early second-round picks (32). NBA Draft Room has Ware going number 27 in their 2024 mock draft. Jonathan Wasserman of Bleacher Report has him going 23rd. Nicholas Crain of Sports Illustrated has Kel’el going 26th. Kyle Boone of CBS Sports does not have him projected as being drafted in the first round (he did not include second-round projections). Michael Scotto of HoopsHype has Ware going 24th. Kevin O’Connor of the Athletic has Kel’el going 22nd. Assuming Kyle Boone would project Kel’el Ware to be drafted early in the 2nd round, the average of these 6 projections has Kel’el being the 26th player drafted.

Profile​

2023-2024 Season Stats: 30 games, 32.2 minutes, 15.9 points, 9.9 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 0.6 steals, 1.9 blocks, 58.6% FG, 42.5% 3P, 63.4% FT

Team: Indiana Hoosiers

Year: Sophomore

Position: Center

Height & Weight: 7-0 | 242 lbs

Born: April 20, 2004

Hometown: North Little Rock, Arkansas

High School: North Little Rock Highschool

Photo by David Berding/Getty Images

Strengths​

Kel’el Ware has the body of a good NBA player. a 7-footer who will weigh 250 plus pounds in a few years and whose wingspan is more than 7 and a half feet (7’7). Ware is also fast and springy, resulting in poster dunks and monster blocks. His ability to shoot 3’s at an effective rate and be mobile enough to play good defense, inside and outside of the paint, means that he has the potential to be an NBA starting center on a championship-caliber team. Ware can do it all on both ends of the court, being an elite lob finisher, efficient inside scorer, has a solid fade away and hook shot, decent passer, good floor spacer, defends the paint well, has the speed to run out to the perimeter, and is a good rebounder. Ware can play with passion, using his active hands to stifle defenses.

Weaknesses​

Ware’s work ethic and attitude have been called into question, particularly during his freshman year. He seemed to be more aloof and sometimes played without energy. His time with Indiana has resulted in him revamping his draft value by showing that he can be a team player and be more consistent. While he can fade into the background on offense, it wasn’t from lack of desire or from him playing a losing brand of basketball. Ware is not the type of player who can be the centerpiece of the offense, but rather a complimentary offense piece. Though Ware is quick for a 7-footer, he still can get beat on the perimeter. Ware shot well for Indiana but was not a high-volume shooter (1.3 3’s a game) and did not shoot well for Oregon, so his shooting may be inconsistent in the NBA.

Conclusion​

Kel’el Ware likely won’t make any all-star games in his career, but he also likely becomes an NBA rotation-level player. His floor is bouncing around a few teams as an exciting prospect but never finding his consistent NBA footing. A good projection for his career is a lower-end starting center or great backup big who has a 10-year NBA career. His ceiling is being a very similar player to Myles Turner, who is the ideal modern NBA starting center who is not an all-star. His unlikely but possible breakout of the roof ceiling is an all-star level center whose offensive game developed well. If Kel’el Ware is available with the 29th pick, the Jazz should take him in a heartbeat. The Jazz should seriously consider trading their 29th and 32nd pick to move up to take Kel’el Ware if they know he won’t be available at 29.

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