The Miami Heat drafted Indiana basketball center Kel’el Ware with the No. 15 overall pick in the first round of the 2024 NBA Draft on Wednesday night.
Ware was in attendance as one of more than two dozen players invited to attend the first night of the draft at the Brooklyn’s Barclays Center.
It’s the first time the Hoosiers have produced first-round picks in consecutive years since 2013-14. Former Indiana guard Jalen Hood-Schifino was drafted 17th overall by the Los Angeles Lakers in 2023. He’s the 80th former IU player drafted.
Ware set his sights on the moment since he signed with Indiana as a transfer in April 2023. He was of one of the top prospects in the 2022 signing class — the then-five-star recruit ranked No. 7 overall, according to 247 Sports — with aspirations of being a one-and-done lottery pick.
Indiana basketball center Kel’el Ware rebuilds his draft stock
The 7-foot-4 center didn’t have the immediate success he hoped for after signing with Oregon coming out of North Little Rock High School in Arkansas. He played sporadically during his lone season in Eugene and his former coach Dana Altman questioned his effort.
Indiana coach Mike Woodson promised to help get Ware’s dream back on track.
“He just told me he was going to get me back to where I needed to be,” Ware said. “If I chose to come to Indiana, he would be able to get me back here, he would be able to get me ready for it and I feel like that’s what he did.”
In 2023–24, Ware was named to the conference’s All-Defensive Team and received All-Big Ten recognition from the coaches (ranked third) and media (ranked second). After confronting Ware, rival coaches like Greg Gard of Wisconsin and Tom Izzo of Michigan State made a special effort to compliment him. Ware, who finished the regular season with an average of 22.5 points (72.7%), 12.3 rebounds, and 3.0 blocks per game, made those remarks during a four-game losing streak.
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