Lance Ware has pulled in a major local award, as he was named NJ.com’s Boys Basketball Player of the Year. He’s also a top recruit for the University of Kentucky men’s basketball team.
Ware, a four-star recruit and the best player in the state of New Jersey, is considered the fifth-best power forward in the class. While not the best scorer in the nation, Ware’s game, given his skill set, should translate to the next level flawlessly.
His coaches explanation is all you need to understand why Ware should thrive in Lexington.
“I didn’t evaluate Lance as a guy who could score 30 points a game. I evaluated him as a rim protector, a guy who would play hard. Everyone is different. He was a defensive stopper, a finisher at the rim. He played all five positions, played point guard when our point guards got hurt and did a good job,” Rick Brunson told NJ.com’s Kevin Minnick regarding the 6-foot-9 power forward.
Ware’s numbers might not have been overly impressive. He notched 11.8 points, 7.9 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.3 blocks per game. However, his team was one of the best in the state, winning 25 straight games.
He could’ve done more. He didn’t have to.
The 31st-best recruit in the Class of 2020, Ware will have to continue that excellent play if he wants a shot at big-time minutes on Kentucky’s roster. While getting to Lexington is tough enough, staying and competing is even harder.
Ware will join a class that boasts three five-star recruits, two of which are among the top 10 in the nation. Altogether the Wildcats have five inbound freshman that ranked within the nation’s top 35 with Ware being lowest-rating one.
Not just a scorer, Ware should have an easy time taking his game to the next level.