Indiana Lands Highly-Coveted Oregon Transfer Kel'el Ware

Kel'el Ware, a 7-footer who spent his freshman season at Oregon, announced Monday he's transferring to Indiana to play for coach Mike Woodson.

Kel'el Ware is a Hoosier.

The 7-foot center announced Monday on Twitter that he's transferring to Indiana after one season at Oregon. Indiana needed an impact big man after the departure of consensus All-American Trayce Jackson-Davis, and Ware, ranked No. 2 among all transfers by 247Sports, could be just that. 

Ware was a former five-star recruit out of North Little Rock High School in Arkansas, and he played in the McDonald's All-American and Jordan Brand Classic games last spring. Ware was ranked No. 8 in the ESPN Top 100 for the class of 2022, between Duke's Kyle Filipowski and Alabama's Brandon Miller.

Ware is Indiana's second addition in the transfer portal this offseason, joining 6-foot-9 big man Payton Sparks from Ball State.

Heyyyyyy👋🏼 pic.twitter.com/1nw29oIG4X

— KW7 (@KelelWare) April 10, 2023

Ware spent his freshman season at Oregon under coach Dana Altman, where he averaged 6.6 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game. He shot 53.4 percent on 2-point attempts, made 15-of-55 3-point shots and converted 71.2 percent of free throws.

Ware had a strong start to his freshman year, but his playing time and production decreased as the season went on. He scored 18 points with nine rebounds against the eventual national champion UConn Huskies on Nov. 24. Two days later, Ware scored 17 points with nine rebounds against Michigan State, followed by 13 points and seven rebounds against Villanova.

Ware started four games during non-conference play, playing over 34 minutes against Michigan State and Villanova, but he came off the bench and did not play more than 19 minutes in any game when the calendar turned to 2023.

With this addition, Indiana has two available scholarships if senior point guard Xavier Johnson's medical hardship waiver is approved.

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