The Miami Heat took to social media on Tuesday to announce that former Indiana Hoosier Kel'el Ware has been selected to the NBA All-Rookie Team.
Ware was voted to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team, as he was just 12 votes behind No. 2 overall pick and Washington Wizards center Alex Sarr.
ALL NBA ROOKIE 2ND TEAM
Washington Wizards guard Bub Carrington, Chicago Bulls forward Matas Buzelis, New Orleans Pelicans center Yves Missi and Portland Trailblazers center Donovan Clingan.
ALL NBA ROOKIE 1ST TEAM
San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle, Memphis Grizzlies guard Jaylen Wells, Atlanta Hawks forward Zaccharie Risacher, Washington Wizards forward Alexandre Sarr and Memphis Grizzlies center Zach Edey.
Ware, the No. 15 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, averaged 9.3 points, 7.4 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in 22.2 minutes per game. He also shot t 55.4 percent from the field, 31.5 percent from 3-point range and 68.7 percent at the free-throw line, recording 15 double doubles this season.
"When you have a 7-footer that can do what he does, it makes your life really, really easy." Heat forward Jaime Jaquez Jr. told 247Sports. "Being able to knock down shots, stretch the floor while also being a tremendous roll threat. Every time he goes down, bigs gotta make the decision to stop the layup or stop the lob, and that's a very tough decision to make."
Ware spent one season at Indiana under former head coach Mike Woodson, where he averaged 15.9 points per game, 9.9 rebounds, 1.9 blocks, and a recorded a field goal percentage of 58.6%.
I expect Ware to make a huge jump next season in his overall development. He could be a cornerstone piece in the Miami Heat rebuild or a huge trade asset in a splash move by the Heat and Pat Riley.