Credit to: iuhoosiers.com
BROOKLYN, N.Y. – Former Indiana center Kel’el Ware was selected with the 15th pick by the Miami Heat in the 2024 NBA Draft.
The Hoosiers have had 80 players, the second-most among current Big Ten Conference schools (UCLA ranks first with 125, Michigan ranks third with 76) selected in the NBA Draft since the inception of the event in 1947. Of the 80 players selected, 28 have heard their name called during the first round.
For the first time since the 2013 and 2014 NBA Drafts, the Hoosiers produced first-round picks in consecutive drafts. Jalen Hood-Schifino was picked 17th overall by the Los Angeles Lakers in 2023. Previously, Victor Oladipo (second overall by Orlando) and Cody Zeller (fourth by Charlotte) were selected in 2013 and were followed by Noah Vonleh (ninth by Charlotte) in 2014.
Kel’el Ware, C, Miami Heat
Ware, an All-Big Ten Second Team selection, averaged team highs in points (15.9 per game), rebounds (9.9), and blocked shots (1.9). He became the third Hoosier in the last 25 seasons (D.J. White, Trayce Jackson-Davis) to average at least 15.0 points and 9.0 rebounds for a season. Ware shot 58.6% (188-of-321) from the floor and 42.5% (17-of-40) from the 3-point line. The Big Ten All-Defensive Team honoree added a team-best 15 double-doubles to go along with 19 multi-block contests.
INDIANA MEN’S BASKETBALL HEAD COACH MIKE WOODSON ON KEL’EL WARE
“Kel’el is the prototypical big man in today’s NBA. He can block shots at the rim, hold up defensively in the pick-and-roll, and is a great lob threat on the other end of the floor. He impressed me with his ability to catch and shoot the basketball at a high level and that is what the next level is looking for. He is a quiet kid that goes about his business in a professional way. He handled the adversity thrown his way to start his college career and responded in a big way for our ball club this season. We are really excited to see the way his career plays out in Miami.”
Hoosiers Selected in the First Round of the NBA Draft
First Overall
Walt Bellamy, Chicago, 1961
Kent Benson, Milwaukee, 1977
Second Overall
Archie Dees, Cincinnati, 1958
Scott May, Chicago, 1976
Isiah Thomas, Detroit, 1981
Victor Oladipo, Orlando, 2013
Fourth Overall
Cody Zeller, Charlotte, 2013
Sixth Overall
Calbert Cheaney, Washington, 1993
Seventh Overall
Quinn Buckner, Milwaukee, 1976
Eric Gordon, Los Angeles Clippers, 2008
Eighth Overall
Ward Williams, Fort Wayne, 1948
Ninth Overall
Noah Vonleh, Charlotte, 2014
11th Overall
Bob Wilkerson, Seattle, 1976
Jared Jeffries, Washington, 2002
12th Overall
Mike Woodson, New York, 1980
14th Overall
Romeo Langford, Boston, 2019
15th Overall
Kel’el Ware, Miami, 2024
16th Overall
Alan Henderson, Atlanta, 1995
Kirk Haston, Charlotte, 2001
17th Overall
Steve Downing, Boston, 1973
Uwe Blab, Dallas, 1985
Greg Graham, Charlotte, 1993
Jalen Hood-Schifino, Los Angeles, 2023
18th Overall
Ray Tolbert, New Jersey, 1981
22nd Overall
Randy Wittman, Washington, 1983
23rd Overall
OG Anunoby, Toronto, 2017
27th Overall
Brian Evans, Orlando, 1995
29th Overall
D.J. White, Detroit, 2008
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