Know the Prospect: Kel’el Ware

With the Knicks currently picking at 24 and 25, most expect New York’s front office to bolster their frontcourt given the uncertainty of the center rotation come next season. If he’s still there, Kel’el Ware could be the exact piece the Knicks are looking for.

Ware is ranked as the 24th draft prospect by ESPN, putting him firmly within range for the Knicks to consider taking him. He’s 7’0”, 230 pounds, and only 20 years old, and is still making dramatic strides in improving his game.

After a solid freshman year for the Oregon Ducks, Ware found a new home with the Indiana Hoosiers, where he blossomed into one of the best players in the Big Ten. He averaged 15.9 points, 9.9 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks per game. He shot 58.6% from the field and connected on 42.5% of his three-pointers.

With his size, athleticism, defensive presence, and offensive versatility, mock drafts primarily have Ware being picked in the 20-25 range. Dare I say unicorn?

Scouts have Ware marked as someone who’s highly skilled with a solid post-up game, with the complementary ability to stretch the floor when needed. On the other end of the floor, he’s known as an explosive, big-time athlete, and his 7’4.5” wingspan gives him the frame he needs to protect the rim. His player comparison that frequently gets brought up is Jarrett Allen, and if Ware comes close to that, he should have a long career cut out for him in the league.

Ware is the prototypical modern-day center. The Knicks have recently used traditional centers that are almost exclusively focused on rim protection and rebounding, with a lob threat being a nice bonus when available. That being said, he’s still definitely a project, and questions of consistency and soft play came to light multiple times throughout his sophomore season. More importantly… he doesn’t seem like a Thibs guy, someone who is defense, defense, defense. There are questions about his hustle. That may turn New York off completely.

Ware has the talent, but he may not be NBA-ready straight out of the draft. If he can unlock his motor and improve his free-throw shooting, which was 63% this past season, he could become a solid NBA player. The Knicks may look for other options that can help them win now, rather than players that will take a couple of years to develop into final form. But Ware’s upside remains there, and he has the skills along with the physical tools to give a team picking in the back half of the first round a reason to take a flier on him.