Indiana’s Kel’el Ware, Mackenzie Mgbako mentioned as possible first round picks in updated 2024 NBA draft projections

  • Aug 10, 2023 in

Two of the most notable NBA draft prognosticators released updated rankings for 2024 earlier this week.

Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer and Sam Vecenie of The Athletic revealed their early projections for next June, which is still more than 10 months away.

O’Connor released a top 30 while Vecenie published a top 59 behind The Athletic’s paywall.

A pair of Indiana newcomers were mentioned, but interestingly, they were not included in both sets of early projections.

Kel’el Ware, who is currently at the Nike Skills Academy in Portland, Oregon, came in at No. 21 in O’Connor’s top 30.

“Ware was an elite high school recruit who attended Oregon for his freshman season, but he struggled to earn minutes and underwhelmed when he did,” O’Connor wrote. “The 7-footer’s transfer to Indiana will provide him with a dramatically different role, filling the shoes of All-American Trayce Jackson-Davis. The hope is that Ware can fulfill his potential as a vertical interior presence by spacing the floor on offense and blocking shots on defense. It all starts with effort, though. Ware needs to play with heart on a nightly basis.”

Mackenzie Mgbako, meanwhile, was included in Vecenie’s rankings at No. 25. Vecenie did not include Ware in his top 59.

Ware was the only Big Ten prospect ranked by O’Connor. There were, however, several Big Ten prospects in Vecenie’s projections over at the Athletic.

Included in Vecenie’s projections from the Big Ten: Scotty Middleton, Ohio State (No. 30), Zach Edey, Purdue (No. 33), Terrence Shannon Jr., Illinois (No. 34) and Coleman Hawkins, Illinois (No. 57).

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