Lance Ware will return to Kentucky in 2021-22

Kentucky freshman forward Lance Ware will return for his sophomore campaign in 2021-22.

The 6-foot-9 forward out of Camden, NJ announced on his Instagram story this afternoon that he will be back in Lexington for year two.

“Yes (I’m) coming back next year…” Ware said.

During his freshman campaign, Ware appeared in 21 games and made three starts, racking up 41 total points, 63 rebounds, 11 blocks, eight assists and six steals. The 6-foot-9 forward led the team in rebounds and blocks in two games, along with leading the team in steals once. He also produced a pair of double-figure rebounding efforts, once in an eight-point, ten-rebound, three-block effort at No. 18 Missouri and a four-point, 13-rebound, four-assist effort in Kentucky’s double-overtime victory at Mississippi State.

As a senior in high school, Ware led Camden High School (NJ) to a 29-1 record, averaging 11.8 points, 7.9 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.3 blocks for a team that won its final 25 games en route to NJ.com Player of the Year honors. He was also a NJ.com All-State First Team selection. As a recruit, the four-star forward was ranked as high as No. 36 in the class of 2020 by Rivals.

Ware’s decision marks the third Wildcat to return to the program this offseason, with Devin Askew’s father, Brian, confirming with KSR his son will be returning to Kentucky for his sophomore campaign, along with Dontaie Allen’s mother, April Allen-Thomas, also confirming with the Falmouth Outlook that her son will be back in 2021-22. Elsewhere, Isaiah Jackson officially put his name in the NBA Draft without an agent on Wednesday, while freshman forward Cam’Ron Fletcher officially entered the transfer portal on March 13.

Welcome back, Lance!