Indiana basketball sophomore center Kel’el Ware named the top transfer in the Big Ten for 2023-24 season

There are going to be a lot eyes on Indiana basketball sophomore center Kel’el Ware this season as he looks to be one of the frontcourt players looking to replace the production that all-time Indiana great Trayce Jackson-Davis gave the program the past four years.

After a freshman season at Oregon that did not pan out the way that himself and others would have hoped it would, Ware opted to enter the portal and is relying on a change of scenery helping him get back to that potential NBA Draft conversation. With the success that Mike Woodson had in the development of Jackson-Davis plus the need for the type of big that the Hoosiers needed in their system, it is a perfect match on paper.

Ware entered the portal as one of the top ranked players available. Although he only had a season that saw him average just 6.6 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game, Ware is a former five-star, McDonald’s All-American so the talent and potential is there.

With many new faces coming into the Big Ten conference via the transfer portal, you could make the strong case that Ware is the best of them all.

“When it comes to talent and upside, few in the Big Ten have what Kel’el Ware has. And that upside is what Indiana head coach Mike Woodson is going to try and tap into,” said On3 Senior National Recruiting Analyst Jamie Shaw. “At his best, Ware is a high-level rim protector who can provide vertical spacing around the basket and has some touch with the possibility to extend to the three-point line. The thing with Ware, the motor. Can he rev that engine and keep it running for 40 minutes? That, along with guard depth, could be the x-factor in Indiana’s season.”

Related: Indiana basketball sophomore center Kel’el Ware named one of the top NBA Draft prospects that returned to college

The biggest question all offseason about Kel’el Ware was surrounding his motor, or lack thereof. During his freshman season at Oregon, his lack of motor really sat him back from being the one-and-done player that he was projected to be. Now that he is with Mike Woodson, the lack of motor has to change, period.

Anything less than giving it 100% on the floor at all times for Mike Woodson and the Hoosiers is simply not going to do anybody any favors. He is the versatile big that Mike Woodson has been needing in his system for the past two season. However, if the motor is not where it needs to be, it could really hurt the Hoosiers in the long run of the season.

“Well, when I recruited that young man I told him, you cannot go back and get what happened the year before. You can’t,” Woodson said at Indiana basketball media day on Wednesday. “The word is out; they knocked you and said, hey, you’re lazy, you don’t work hard, and if you make a commitment to me, that’s got to change.”

“Just to prove everyone was wrong. Show everyone I have a motor and keep it going on the court,” Ware added. “People say I’m lazy, just wanna show them I’m not lazy…..Their (Indiana basketball) win now mentality is coming on to me now. I’m getting used to everything and enjoying it … I can give more.”