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Former Indiana basketball center Kel’el Ware named NBA All-Rookie Second Team

FXzrXMwUsAMRoeBby: Kyler Staley05/20/25kylerstaley
NBA: Miami Heat at Washington Wizards
Mar 31, 2025; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Miami Heat center Kel'el Ware (7) looks on during the second quarter against the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Reggie Hildred-Imagn Images

Per a release from Indiana basketball on Tuesday afternoon, former Hoosier big man Kel’el Ware was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team.

Kel’el Ware is ninth former Indiana player to make a NBA-All Rookie Team. He played one season with Indiana during the 2023-24 season under then head coach Mike Woodson.

He was the 15th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, selected by the Miami Heat.  He averaged 9.3 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 1.1 blocked shots in 22.2 minutes per game during his rookie season with the Heat.

Below is the full release.

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BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana men’s basketball alumnus Kel’el Ware was voted to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team, the league announced on Tuesday afternoon.

Ware, the 15th pick in the 2024 first round pick by the Miami Heat, made 36 starts across 64 appearances in his rookie season. He averaged 9.3 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 1.1 blocked shots in 22.2 minutes per game. He shot 55.4% from the floor. He hit double figures in the scoring column 26 times and topped 20 points on four occasions. He added 23 games with at least 10 rebounds and 19 nights with multiple blocks. Ware posted 15 double-doubles.

During his lone season in Bloomington, Ware was named All-Big Ten Second Team (Media), All-Big Ten Third Team (Coaches), and Big Ten All-Defensive Team. He led the Hoosiers in scoring (15.9 points per game), rebounding (9.9), blocked shots (1.9), and field goal percentage (58.6%). The North Little Rock, Ark., native was one of two Big Ten players (Zach Edey; Purdue) to average at least 15.0 points and 9.0 rebounds per game and one of three Indiana players in the last 25 seasons to average at least 15.0 points and 9.0 rebounds per game in a season. He posted 16.9 points, 10.6 rebounds, and 2.0 blocked shots per game in Big Ten Conference play.

Ware is the ninth former Hoosier to be named to the All-NBA Rookie team. He joins Dick Van Arsdale (1965-66), Tom Van Arsdale (1965-66), Scott May (1976-77), Isiah Thomas (1981-82), Eric Gordon (2008-09), Victor Oladipo (2013-14), Cody Zeller (2013-14), and Kevin ‘Yogi’ Ferrell (2016-17).

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