Indiana Center Kel'el Ware Declares For 2024 NBA Draft

After averaging 15.9 points, 9.9 rebounds,1.9 blocks and earning second-team All-Big Ten honors in his lone season at Indiana, 7-footer Kel'el Ware has declared for the 2024 NBA Draft.

Mar 10, 2024; Bloomington, Indiana, USA; Indiana Hoosiers center Kel'el Ware (1) in the first half / Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana center Kel'el Ware declared for the 2024 NBA Draft Tuesday morning.

The 7-footer had a breakout sophomore season with the Hoosiers, averaging 15.9 points, 9.9 rebounds and1.9 blocks in 32.2 minutes per game under coach Mike Woodson. Ware shot 58.6% from the field, 42.5% from 3-point range and 63.45 from the free throw line. He earned second-team All-Big Ten honors by the media and third team by the coaches.

In a 2024 NBA mock draft on NBA.com published March 22, Ware was projected to be selected 11th overall. ESPN's mock draft published March 25 had Ware going 26th overall. Ware still has the option to return to college for his junior season in 2024-25 after going through the pre-draft process. However, Jeff Goodman reported Ware intends to forgo his remaining collegiate eligibility.

“In April of last year Coach Woodson and I sat in his office and he told me he was going to help me get to the next level, and if there is one thing we know about Woody, is that he is true to his word,” Ware told 247Sports. “I owe a lot to Coach Woodson and the entire coaching staff, Coach Yasir, Coach Kenya [Hunter] and Coach Brian [Walsh] ... I will forever have a home in a Bloomington. It was an honor to compete in Assembly Hall and play in front of the IU faithful.”

Ware spent his freshman season at Oregon, where his playing time decreased throughout the season. In 15.8 minutes per game, primarily off the bench, Ware averaged 6.6 points and 4.1 rebounds per game. He was a five-star recruit and McDonald's All-American out of North Little Rock High School.

If Ware remains in the draft, Indiana will have seven open scholarships out of 13 available heading into the 2024-25 season. Xavier Johnson and Anthony Walker are out of eligibility, while CJ Gunn, Kaleb Banks and Payton Sparks have entered the transfer portal.

Here's what the roster currently looks like.

• Trey Galloway, one year of eligibility
• Anthony Leal, one year of eligibility
• Malik Reneau, two years of eligibility
• Mackenzie Mgbako, three years of eligibility
• Gabe Cupps, three years of eligibility
• Jakai Newton, four years of eligibility
• Open
• Open
• Open
• Open
• Open
• Open
• Open