Indiana basketball: How Kel’el Ware’s turnaround led Oumar Ballo to Bloomington

Posted by Admin October 21, 2024 Basketball

BLOOMINGTON — Oumar Ballo was one of the most coveted talents in the transfer portal when he came to Bloomington for an official visit in April.

The Arizona transfer was being pursued by a long list of blue bloods, but a film session with Indiana basketball’s coaching staff basically ended his recruitment.

They spent time breaking down the 7-foot center’s strengths and weaknesses before showing him film of Trayce-Jackson Davis and Kel’el Ware and highlighting the improvements they made playing for coach Mike Woodson.

“That stuff was really convincing to me to pick this place,” Ballo said, at IU basketball’s media days.

The strides Ware made had the biggest impact on Ballo.

“I played against him then in the span of nine months, he was a completely different player,” Ballo said. “Stuff like that, it’s not a cheat code. It’s just work that the coaching staff is doing to help guys out. That helped my decision coming here.”

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Indiana basketball center Oumar Ballo dreaming big

Ballo, who was a rising star in the Pac-12, was well aware of Ware’s struggles as a true freshman at Oregon during the 2022-23 season. Ware was a bit player for the Ducks for much of the year as coach Dana Altman publicly questioned his effort and toughness.

Oregon scored an 87-68 upset over then No. 9 Arizona in their first meeting that season, but Ware had just four points in nine minutes. Ware only played 13 minutes in the rematch a few weeks later as Altman’s third frontcourt option off the bench.

It’s why Ballo said it was “inspiring” to see Ware walk across the draft stage as a lottery pick at the Barclays Center a year later.

“It was a huge transition,” Ballo said. “Seeing him fulfilling his dreams, it’s inspiring and I’m happy for him.”

Woodson helped Ware get back on the right track after signing him during the spring portal window. He earned All-Big Ten second team (media) and third team (coaches) last season as well as Big Ten All-Defensive Team honors. He averaged 15.9 points, 9.9 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game.

Ballo spoke over the phone with Ware and Jackson-Davis while he was in the portal. Ballo and Jackson-Davis previously faced off as well when Indiana played Arizona in the 2022-23 Las Vegas Clash.

“They only say good things about Bloomington and Woody and the coaching staff,” Ballo said.

Ballo certainly doesn’t have as far to go to get to that draft stage.

He was one of the most productive centers in the country over the last two seasons — he started all 71 games Arizona played during that stretch — and left the program as one of just 10 players with 1,000 career points and 800 career rebounds.

Last year, he earned First Team All-Pac-12 honors and made the conference’s All-Defensive Team while averaging 12.9 points and 10.1 rebounds per game while helping Arizona win the Pac-12 regular season championship and reach the Sweet Sixteen.

“He’s (Woodson) done a lot of good things with big guys, and that’s why I’m here,” Ballo said.

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Indiana basketball center Oumar Ballo brings winning mentality to Bloomington

Ballo laughed when he was asked about Indiana’s potential lineup combinations. One of IU’s biggest question marks going into the season is how Ballo will fit alongside forward Malik Reneau.

“I think that’s a question you should ask Woody,” Ballo said, with a wide grin.

Ballo anticipates being the Hoosiers’ main rim protector — ”that’s what I’m here for and that’s what I’m going to do” — and made it clear he’s ready for whatever “the boss” throws his way whether that’s being the only big on the floor or not.

“I just want to be a great example for my other teammates,” Ballo said.

Ballo’s main focus is developing chemistry with those new teammates while working on the areas of his own game the staff wants him to improve on. He’s worked on his ball-handling, free throws, passing and trying to improve his feel for the game.

As an example, Ballo said he wants to do a better job at reading double teams that he expects opposing teams in the Big Ten to throw at him.

Ballo is eager to see how it all comes together when IU opens the season against SIUE on Nov. 6.

“I’m confident we have every tool we need from managers to coaching staff to players to get where we want to go,” Ballo said.

Michael Niziolek is the Indiana beat reporter for The Bloomington Herald-Times. You can follow him on X @michaelniziolek and read all his coverage by clicking here.