(C) Kel 'el Ware - COMMITTED TO INDIANA

[Ricochet]

18 minutes ago, btownqb said:

https://www.si.com/college/indiana/basketball/indiana-mike-woodson-raving-summer-improvements-trayce-jackson-davis

 

Why are you posting a 2 year old article?

[Demo]

https://basketballrecruiting.rivals.com/news/familiar-face-new-place-former-five-star-kel-el-ware

Nice little article from Cassidy on Ware. Not gonna pretend that I still don’t have concerns here, but so far the kid seems to be doing everything right. 

[HoosierHoopster]

2 hours ago, Demo said:

https://basketballrecruiting.rivals.com/news/familiar-face-new-place-former-five-star-kel-el-ware

Nice little article from Cassidy on Ware. Not gonna pretend that I still don’t have concerns here, but so far the kid seems to be doing everything right. 

Agree -- nice, short breakdown of things that went wrong after his McD's game and why there's reason for optimism at IU. Malik's passing ability next to him is definitely one of them, but would add Woodson's push for dedication / effort on both ends along with IU's conditioning program. Especially after transferring and with Woodson's knowledge of what it takes to make the League, I'm optimistic on his upcoming season. 

[CSP]

3 hours ago, Demo said:

https://basketballrecruiting.rivals.com/news/familiar-face-new-place-former-five-star-kel-el-ware

Nice little article from Cassidy on Ware. Not gonna pretend that I still don’t have concerns here, but so far the kid seems to be doing everything right. 

to be "greedy" though... the kid doesn't have to live up to his potential or be a 1st rd draft pick for him to be very serviceable for us. 

At absolute worst, imo, he's George Leach. 

[Loaded Chicken Sandwich]

1 hour ago, btownqb said:

to be "greedy" though... the kid doesn't have to live up to his potential or be a 1st rd draft pick for him to be very serviceable for us. 

At absolute worst, imo, he's George Leach. 

Well we need a healthy mix of a senior George Leach and senior Jeff Newton.

[Loaded Chicken Sandwich]

We need his floor to be a senior George Leach but he has to tools and potential to be a sophomore Jared Jeffries.

[CSP]

37 minutes ago, Loaded Chicken Sandwich said:

We need his floor to be a senior George Leach but he has to tools and potential to be a sophomore Jared Jeffries.

He doesn't have anything close to the ball handling capabilities or play making ability that JJ had. 

[Loaded Chicken Sandwich]

4 hours ago, btownqb said:

He doesn't have anything close to the ball handling capabilities or play making ability that JJ had. 

You'd be surprised. It isn't like Jeffries was Kyrie Irving. Most elite high schoolers have those skills now.

[MikeRoberts]

If ware is anywhere close to a sophomore Jared Jeffries we are in for an awesome season

[HoosierFan1994]

8 hours ago, btownqb said:

to be "greedy" though... the kid doesn't have to live up to his potential or be a 1st rd draft pick for him to be very serviceable for us. 

At absolute worst, imo, he's George Leach. 

I am with you on this. I think he's going to be the 4th best player on this team and possibly be the best NBA prospect of the bunch. I think he is in line for a 9 PPG, 7 RPG, 2 blocks a game kind of year. I hope we get more but I think Malik is in for such a breakout year. I think Mackenzie is going to be a pure scorer as well. 

[CSP]

11 hours ago, Loaded Chicken Sandwich said:

You'd be surprised. It isn't like Jeffries was Kyrie Irving. Most elite high schoolers have those skills now.

I'm not sure what I'll be surprised about lol 

He's not close to the same player. One's a rim protector, One was a point forward. 

[CSP]

9 hours ago, HoosierFan1994 said:

I am with you on this. I think he's going to be the 4th best player on this team and possibly be the best NBA prospect of the bunch. I think he is in line for a 9 PPG, 7 RPG, 2 blocks a game kind of year. I hope we get more but I think Malik is in for such a breakout year. I think Mackenzie is going to be a pure scorer as well. 

Yes. Now..  at 7'1 they probably will draft him anyways in 2024, but I think we get 2 years of Ware. The avg you mentioned, as long as other pieces fit/ do their job, I think is fine. 

[Loaded Chicken Sandwich]

29 minutes ago, btownqb said:

I'm not sure what I'll be surprised about lol 

He's not close to the same player. One's a rim protector, One was a point forward. 

A near 7 footer that can stretch the floor, block shots, long and lanky, with forward skills... Yup. That is Ware. Just like Jeffries.

[CSP]

4 minutes ago, Loaded Chicken Sandwich said:

A near 7 footer that can stretch the floor, block shots, long and lanky, with forward skills... Yup. That is Ware. Just like Jeffries.

Did you ever watch JJ play? Have you seen the film of Ware? 

They seem absolutely nothing alike in play style. "with forward skills"--- Jeffries had guard skills. Maybe that's where the confusion is. Ware isn't initiating the offense. 

[str8baller]

9 minutes ago, btownqb said:

Did you ever watch JJ play? Have you seen the film of Ware? 

They seem absolutely nothing alike in play style. "with forward skills"--- Jeffries had guard skills. Maybe that's where the confusion is. Ware isn't initiating the offense. 

I’ve only seen a couple ware highlights, but I’d have to agree. We throw the term “point-forward” around, but Jeffries was easily as much point as forward and I don’t think that’s usually the case. Jeffries was bringing the ball up the court in the HS championship game, and could even initiate the offense in college as you point out.  
 

I’m interested in what Ware can bring to the table and would be blown away if he’s anything like Jeffries. My expectations for the season would go up quite a bit in that case. 

[Stuhoo]

And IMO George Leach is not a comp either. Leach was a true post. Same-ish body size, but likely a very different skill set. 

I can't think of an IU comp for what Ware could bring if he hits some version of expectations. In fact I am having trouble thinking of a shot blocking seven footer in college whose offensive game was threes and rim running.

Maybe Jalen "Sticks" Smith from Maryland a few years back. He was a few inches shorter and played with a high motor, but had some volume from three and was a long shot blocker on defense. BTW, I would be thrilled if Ware approximated the production of Sticks Smith.

[CSP]

21 minutes ago, Stuhoo said:

And IMO George Leach is not a comp either. Leach was a true post. Same-ish body size, but likely a very different skill set. 

I can't think of an IU comp for what Ware could bring if he hits some version of expectations. In fact I am having trouble thinking of a shot blocking seven footer in college whose offensive game was threes and rim running.

Maybe Jalen "Sticks" Smith from Maryland a few years back. He was a few inches shorter and played with a high motor, but had some volume from three and was a long shot blocker on defense. BTW, I would be thrilled if Ware approximated the production of Sticks Smith.

Centers who's best skill is defending the rim. Thats why the comparison to George Leach. At minimum, even if he shoots poorly, he's G Leach. Offensively they aren't similar. 

Dickinson would be an OK one, but KW seems to be a better rim protector than HD. 

Ware and Smith aren't the same position, so it's hard for me to compare them. But I agree, there by no means have been many. I don't think KW has shown much of a rim runner, that might have been the issue at Oregon, and certainly something I hope Woodson gets out of him. 

[8bucks]

He is clearly no Magnus Pelkowski but hopefully he can be a little like Miles Turner

[CSP]

5 minutes ago, 8bucks said:

He is clearly no Magnus Pelkowski but hopefully he can be a little like Miles Turner

Myles Turner, there you go. Good comp. 

[mamasa]

21 minutes ago, 8bucks said:

He is clearly no Magnus Pelkowski but hopefully he can be a little like Miles Turner

THREAD DERAILMENT WARNING: (I was curious about Pelkowski's whereabouts, found this lol)

In 1989 he got a contract as a professional in his parents' home country and played in Ulm for SSV 1846 in the BBL. He initially returned to Ulm for the 1990/91 season, but was suspended in the first game of the season after attacking a referee. ^[1] For the following season he was guided to Bamberg by coach Terence Schofield , where he and the team were able to win the club's first national title by winning the cup in 1992. He then played for SG Braunschweig in the BBL. A serious shoulder injury that he sustained in a duel with Olaf Blab , the brother of his former Hoosiers teammate Uwe Blab , caused him to end his basketball career.