You Ware It Well: HoopsHD interviews McDonald’s All-American Kel’el Ware

If you want to win an NCAA title you usually need a good coach, a great resume…and a McDonald’s All-American. Only 3 championship teams since 1979 have not featured such a player (2002 Maryland/2014 UConn/2021 Baylor). The McDonald’s All-American Game has been canceled during each of the past 2 years due to COVID but hopefully the 3rd time is indeed the charm to see everyone back on the court in Chicago on March 29th. The rosters were announced on January 25th after selecting the 24 best high school basketball players in the nation from a list of almost 800 nominees. If you do not think these guys can make an immediate impact this fall just ask Coach Bruce Pearl how he likes having 2021 honoree Jabari Smith at Auburn! Duke seems to be the big winner so far as Coach Jon Scheyer will inherit a trio of 2022 honorees to join him in Durham next season. Earlier this week HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Kel’el Ware about being named a McDonald’s All-American and turning down a LOT of money.

In the summer of 2020 you were not even a top-100 national prospect but now you are among the best players in the country: how have you been able to improve so much over the past 18 months? Just playing AAU ball and getting some more exposure.

Last spring you had 19 PTS/8 REB and were named MVP of the Class 6A state title game after a 10-PT win over Little Rock Central: what did it mean to you to win a title? It meant a lot because not very many people can say they won a state title.

What has been the hardest part of being a high school basketball player during a pandemic? The breaks we have to take are the toughest part: we cannot always do everything that we used to do.

You received offers from several great schools including Arkansas/Auburn but committed to Oregon last August: what was the biggest factor in your decision? I really liked the environment in Eugene and had a great vibe when I talked with the coaches. I watched film of what they have done with big men in the past and I feel that I can be a great asset.

You are part of a great recruiting class including Dior Johnson/Tyrone Williams: how well do you know either of them, and what makes them such great players? I do not know Tyrone well but am starting to get to know him more and more. I know Dior better: he is a great ball-handler/playmaker so I know that he will be able to get me the ball.

I heard that you allegedly turned down a $900,000 contract with Overtime Elite to attend college next year: is that true, and do you have any regrets? It is true…and I do not have any regrets.

Last November you had 15 PTS/21 REB/18 BLK in a win over Maumelle: where does that rank among the greatest all-around games of your career? It is in the top-5.

Last month you were named a McDonald’s All-American: what did it mean to you to receive such an outstanding honor? It meant a lot to me because there are not a lot of people who can get to that level: it is a great honor.

Your teammate Nick Smith Jr., who Draft Express recently named the top NBA prospect in the Class of 2022, was also named a McDonald’s All-American: how did you guys lose any games this season with so much talent on the court, and how do you think he will do at Arkansas? I think Nick will do great at Arkansas due to how he plays. We are having a great season but need to pick it up.

You are 7’: what position do you play now, and what position will you feel most comfortable at in college? I play center now and plan to do the same in college but can play anywhere on the floor.