(C) Kel 'el Ware - COMMITTED TO INDIANA

[str8baller 7,303]

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 88,460]

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.

[Certified Sunshine Pumper 11,331]

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 7,480]

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

[Certified Sunshine Pumper 11,331]

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 15,908]

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.

[Loaded Chicken Sandwich 9,257]

1 hour 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. 

Yes I watched Jeffries play. The ability to bring the ball up the floor is pretty common nowadays. That's isn't some unicorn deal.

[Loaded Chicken Sandwich 9,257]

56 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.

Newton is probably closest to him. At least that we've seen at IU.

[Certified Sunshine Pumper 11,331]

15 minutes ago, Loaded Chicken Sandwich said:

Yes I watched Jeffries play. The ability to bring the ball up the floor is pretty common nowadays. That's isn't some unicorn deal.

Right. And Ware doesn't and won't. 

Malik might. 

[Loaded Chicken Sandwich 9,257]

Just now, btownqb said:

Right. And Ware doesn't and won't. 

Malik might. 

 We have literally no clue yet what Ware will and won't do. Woody was able to develop TJD from never being able to bring the ball up, into the best point-center in the nation.

[Certified Sunshine Pumper 11,331]

13 minutes ago, Loaded Chicken Sandwich said:

 We have literally no clue yet what Ware will and won't do. Woody was able to develop TJD from never being able to bring the ball up, into the best point-center in the nation.

You can watch his tape to see his capabilities/limits. And yes, Woodson was great in TJD's development. 

[Loaded Chicken Sandwich 9,257]

32 minutes ago, btownqb said:

You can watch his tape to see his capabilities/limits. And yes, Woodson was great in TJD's development. 

Right. And Ware is coming in with more ball handling skills than TJD had. Ware won't need to bring the ball up with Johnson, Galloway and Mgbako on the floor, but there's no doubt he's capable. It's just how guys are nowadays.

[HoosierHoopster 8,113]

1 hour ago, Loaded Chicken Sandwich said:

Newton is probably closest to him. At least that we've seen at IU.

I don't see the Newton comparison - and loved Newton's play at IU. Side note, he went on to dominate and became a legend in Japan

[Certified Sunshine Pumper 11,331]

33 minutes ago, Loaded Chicken Sandwich said:

Right. And Ware is coming in with more ball handling skills than TJD had. Ware won't need to bring the ball up with Johnson, Galloway and Mgbako on the floor, but there's no doubt he's capable. It's just how guys are nowadays.

I don't really see him as capable, but that's fine. He might be a Dickinson as a center, skills-wise, at best? shot fake and drive type...point forward he is not. 

But.. we could screen and roll/pop with JJ as the ball handler, Ware doesn't have that, which is fine. 

Ware does have the capability of sitting in a corner when others are running offense to stretch the defense. I like that a lot. We should be much more diverse offensively this year and not just 2 horses to carry the grunt of the work. 

And this whole opinion is just based on what he's shown so far.... 2 years from now I hope Ware's game has evolved! 

[Loaded Chicken Sandwich 9,257]

36 minutes ago, btownqb said:

I don't really see him as capable, but that's fine. He might be a Dickinson as a center, skills-wise, at best? shot fake and drive type...point forward he is not. 

But.. we could screen and roll/pop with JJ as the ball handler, Ware doesn't have that, which is fine. 

Ware does have the capability of sitting in a corner when others are running offense to stretch the defense. I like that a lot. We should be much more diverse offensively this year and not just 2 horses to carry the grunt of the work. 

And this whole opinion is just based on what he's shown so far.... 2 years from now I hope Ware's game has evolved! 

Ware won't be in Bloomington in two years. He likely won't be next year. But I don't remember Jeffries ever being a "point forward." Just being a college center with some wing skills for the era. He still work within 15 feet a lot. He did take 2 threes a game his sophomore year though. I assume Ware will be in the 2-3 area per game this year. I don't think he will be Jeffries, but he without a doubt has the same skillset, because like I said, all 99% of elite recruits have the skillset Jeffries had. Just how basketball is nowadays. In fact, Ware probably has better handles than Jeffries had just because of the perimeter focus in today's game, he just doesn't have to use it.

[Loaded Chicken Sandwich 9,257]

1 hour ago, HoosierHoopster said:

I don't see the Newton comparison - and loved Newton's play at IU. Side note, he went on to dominate and became a legend in Japan

Newton was a big man that never really put the ball on the floor, could protect the rim and step out and shoot.

[Stuhoo 88,460]

22 minutes ago, Loaded Chicken Sandwich said:

Newton was a big man that never really put the ball on the floor, could protect the rim and step out and shoot.

I can see that. Newton was also inconsistent and really talented, though Ware is three inches taller.

Let's hope that Ware smokes less weed at IU than Newton did (because that's a lot a lot a lot of weed).

[WayneFleekHoosier 51,032]

Just now, Stuhoo said:

I can see that. Newton was also inconsistent and really talented, though Ware is three inches taller.

Let's hope that Ware smokes less weed at IU than Newton did (because that's a lot a lot a lot of weed).

Newton was underrated.  That elbow jumper was pretty consistent. 

[Loaded Chicken Sandwich 9,257]

26 minutes ago, WayneFleekHoosier said:

Newton was underrated.  That elbow jumper was pretty consistent. 

He loved joints of all kinds.

[BtownStrength 1,469]

27 minutes ago, WayneFleekHoosier said:

Newton was underrated.  That elbow jumper was pretty consistent. 

Favorite moment..the 2 HUGE rebounds in the final minute of IU-Duke sweet 16 2002. Last one off the Boozer putback miss.