Rebuild begins for Oregon men's basketball with loss of two players
Oregon’s men's basketball roster rebuild has begun with the departure of two members of its 2022 recruiting class.
Former 5-star recruit Kel’el Ware and top junior college transfer Tyrone Williams both announced they are entering the transfer portal less than a week after the conclusion of the men’s basketball season in the National Invitation Tournament.
Ware, a 7-0, 210-pound center, was ranked by 247Sports as the No. 7 recruit in the class of 2022. He averaged 6.6 points and 4.1 rebounds in 35 games with four starts as a freshman this past season.
“I am filled with gratitude and thanks for the University of Oregon, Coach Altman, my teammates and the entire Ducks community,” Ware wrote in an Instagram post. “Playing in front of all the Oregon fans in Matthew Knight Arena was a dream come true. I am looking forward to the next chapter in my life as I will be entering the transfer portal.”
Williams, a 6-5 reserve guard who was the national junior college scoring leader in 2020-21 and 2021-22, played in 23 games and averaged 2.5 points, 2.0 rebounds and 9.7 minutes in those games.
His playing time and production increased during the NIT, including a 12-point, 11-rebound performance in the opener against UC Irvine.
“I want to first thank the University of Oregon for all the opportunities they have afforded me in my time in Eugene,” Williams wrote in his Instagram post. “Secondly, I would like to thank my support system for being there throughout the ups and downs. Lastly, I would like to thank Coach Altman, his staff, and the entire University of Oregon for supporting me this year. It has been a great experience and I am thankful for all the memories I have been a part of during my time here at the University of Oregon."
Oregon ended the season with a 21-15 record after its 61-58 loss to Wisconsin in the quarterfinals of the NIT on March 21.
The Ducks are also losing five-year point guard Will Richardson and are waiting on a decision from several other players with eligibility remaining, including all-Pac-12 center N’Faly Dante. Starters Jermaine Couisnard and Nate Bittle have already stated their intentions to return.
Follow Chris Hansen on Twitter @chansen_RG or email at chansen@registerguard.com. For more sports coverage, visit registerguard.com. Want more stories like this? Subscribe to get unlimited access and support local journalism.
This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Rebuild begins for Oregon men's basketball with loss of two players
