Kel'el Ware Accepts Invitation to NBA Draft Green Room

BLOOMINGTON — Former Indiana basketball center Kel’el Ware has accepted an invitation to attend this year’s NBA draft, according to ESPN’s Jonathan Givony.

The NBA Draft will take place over two days for the first time this year. This year’s top prospects have been invited to attend the first round on June 26 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. The second round will take place at the ESPN Studios in New York.

According to Givony, Ware is one of 24 players who have accepted draft invitations. The list includes Zaccharie Risacher, Alex Sarr, Donovan Clingan, Reed Sheppard, Matas Buzelis, Stephon Castle and Dalton Knecht. Players will be allowed to invite six people to sit with them in the green room.

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The invitation is a strong indication that Ware will go in the first round since the selection process involves NBA poll league leaders. The most recent mock drafts reflect Ware’s improving draft stock — ESPN has him at No. 23 to Milwaukee, USA Today has him to Philadelphia at No. 16 and Yahoo Sports has him to Chicago at No. 9.

Ware earned All-Big Ten honors from the coaches (third) and media (second) in 2023-24 during his online season with the Hoosiers. He averaged 15.9 points (58.6%), 9.9 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game. He had the second-most double-doubles (15) in the conference.

The only other player to average at least 15 points and nine rebounds in the Big Ten was Purdue center Zach Edey.

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The former five-star recruit signed with Oregon out of North Little Rock High School in Arkansas. After a rough season in Eugene, he transferred to Indiana where he rebuilt his draft stock.

Indiana is looking to produce first-round picks in consecutive years for the first time since 2013-14. Last year, Jalen Hood-Schifino went 17th overall to the Los Angeles Lakers. The program hasn’t had a lottery pick since Romeo Langford was the 14th pick by the Boston Celtics in 2019.

Michael Niziolek is the Indiana reporter for the Bloomington Herald-Times. You can follow him on @michaelniziolek and read all of its coverage by clicking here.