The 2022 NBA draft is only two months into the rearview mirror, but with college and international hoops starting shortly the NBA draft pundits are already crafting their mock drafts for 2023.
Jeremy Woo of Sports Illustrated released his first big board, acknowledging what he has is more of a watch list at this point in the process.
Oregon Ducks incoming freshman center Kel’el Ware came in at No. 17 overall on Woo’s list, the third seven-footer behind Victor Wembanyama and Dereck Lively.
Ware has done a lot for his profile over the past six months between the All-American circuit and FIBA competition, intriguing scouts with his size and length, rim-protecting capacity and developing jumper. While his motor can still be a bit sporadic, he seems to have turned a bit of a corner in that department as he gets further accustomed to impacting games with his physicality. It’s fair to wonder how strong his production is going to be at Oregon, but Ware offers so much of what teams look for in a shot-blocking big that he’ll warrant some patience as he makes the jump in level. I’ve heard some positive comparisons to Jarrett Allen at the same stage, which would be a high-end outcome for him, but Ware has a pathway into the first round if he continues on his current trajectory.
Ware is next in a long line of high-level recruits to join Dana Altman’s program in Eugene, with fans hoping to see production match the hype – something that didn’t come together with N’Faly Dante, Bol Bol, and (to date) Nate Bittle.
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