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5 hours ago
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The Miami Heat are still in the midst of a youth movement and are set to roll out 2024 first-round pick Kel’el Ware in Summer League over the next few weeks. But he won’t be doing it alone — and he’ll have a familiar face alongside him.
Oumar Ballo has been added to the Heat’s Summer League roster and will reunite with Ware in the coming weeks. Both big men spent time with the Indiana Hoosiers, just one year apart, and their connection goes back further than it might seem on the surface.
It was reported that Ware played a role in helping his former team back in Bloomington land Ballo through the transfer portal last offseason.
The former Arizona center was one of the top names available — a two-time All-Pac-12 selection and widely considered the best big man on the board. Ballo reportedly signed with Indiana in part because of what he saw in Ware's growth under head coach Mike Woodson.
It’s unclear whether Miami factored that connection into the decision to bring Ballo on board, but having that built-in chemistry is never a bad thing — especially heading into Summer League.
The 7-footer from Mali spent his five-year college career bouncing between Gonzaga, Arizona, and Indiana. Despite the Hoosiers struggling last season, Ballo was one of the few bright spots, averaging 13 points, 9.1 rebounds, and shooting 62% from the field.
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Ballo came to Indiana as a highly regarded transfer, rated as the No. 2 overall player in the portal and the top center available, earning a 97 grade. Even before that, he carried plenty of hype as a former four-star recruit and the No. 66 overall player nationally coming out of Mali.
Now, the two former Hoosiers get to run it back — this time on an NBA stage. For a Heat team betting on young talent, it’s a pairing worth keeping an eye on
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