Ducks Digest

Oregon Center Kel'el Ware Enters Transfer Portal After One Season With Ducks

Kel'el Ware is the first player Oregon player we've seen hit the the portal since the season ended last week in an NIT loss to Wisconsin.

Max Torres

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Oregon Ducks freshman center Kel'el Ware has entered the transfer portal, he announced Monday morning.

"I am filled with gratitude and thanks for the University of Oregon, Coach Altman, my teammates and the entire Ducks community," Ware wrote in a social media post. "Playing in front of all the Oregon fans in Matthew Knight Arena was a dream come true. I am looking forward to the next chapter in my life as I will be entering the transfer portal."

Travis Branham of 247Sports reported earlier Monday morning that Ware has no intention of entering the 2023 NBA Draft.

Ware logged 15 minutes last week in Oregon' 61-58 loss to the Wisconsin Badgers at Matthew Knight Arena in the quarterfinals of the NIT. He scored two points on 1-of-6 shooting from the floor, adding six rebounds, two blocks and a steal. 

It wasn't the star season that many fans had hoped it would be for the 7-foot big man.

After signing with the Ducks as a five-star recruit from North Little Rock, Arkansas in the 2022 class, the true freshman battled for a larger role in the post alongside the team's leading scorer N'Faly Dante and sophomore Nate Bittle.

He finished his lone season in Eugene playing in 35 games, starting four, and averaged 6.7 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.23 blocks per game.

His departure is the first of what promises to be a busy offseason for head coach Dana Altman. After the season ended in the NIT, he knows that something needs to change to get the program back to competing for elite eights and final fours--which has become the standard in Eugene under the most successful coach the Ducks have ever had. 

Bittle and Jermaine Cousinard have committed to returning next season while guard Keeshawn Barthelemy will play at Oregon unless he decides to pursue a professional career. 

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Max Torres
MAX TORRES

Max Torres is the publisher and lead editor of Ducks Digest. He's covered the Oregon football and recruiting beats for four years. He's based out of Long Beach, CA and travels around Southern California and the country covering top high school football prospects.

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