Lance Ware (UK Athletics Photo)
Isaiah Jackson said 7-foot Wake Forest transfer Olivier Sarr makes practices tough on him because he can block shots and score. But the Kentucky freshman said Lance Ware, another freshman, is also a difficult practice matchup.
“He’s tough and tough to guard. Competitive, talks, does everything right,” Jackson said about Ware. “He is like Olivier, just a smaller version. Plays defense, he can score, can go get a bucket, knock down shots. He can block shots and do everything I can do. That’s one of the main reasons practices are so tough because of him and I gotta play against him every day.”
The 6-9 Ware said it is a compliment to be compared to Sarr in any way because of the skills Sarr, a second-team all-ACC choice last year, has.
“Obviously he’s 7-foot, I’m 6-9, 6-10. So, I mean, Olivier can really shoot it, very versatile. I think that’s a compliment. Obviously, being an older guy and just his knowledge of the game and his ability to rebound, block shots, it’s all there,” Ware said.
What Ware is known for is the energy he brings to the gym daily. He likes having that description used about him.
“I definitely try to just mix things up, attack the glass and just play with a lot of energy because sometimes that’s half the battle,” he said. “Just try to get your team going and if someone doesn’t bring the energy and the fact that they see me playing hard or chasing loose rebounds and doing all of the little stuff, it just rubs off on the team in a positive way. So, that’s kind of what I do.”
Ware says Rick Brunson, who became his coach at Camden (N.J.) High School his senior year, made him understand that effort was expected 100 percent of the time.
“Coach Brunson kind of instilled that in me and got my whole mindset to change,” Ware said. “I kind of have to bring it in practice and everybody has to bring it because Cal doesn’t accept anything less.”
