On Saturday, May 20, rising senior and Kentucky transfer Lance Ware officially announced his commitment to Villanova. 

“With every journey there comes a time where we need to make an important decision on which direction to turn towards next,” Ware said after entering the transfer portal on May 4. “That time is now for me.” 

The six foot nine forward from Camden, New Jersey was a four star prospect coming out of high school, where he was ranked the 39th best player in the nation per 247sports Composite Rankings. Wade was also the fifth best power forward in the nation and the third ranked player in New Jersey. 

During Ware’s time at UK, he played 77 games and had nine starts, averaging 1.8 points and 2.2 rebounds. 

During his freshman year, Ware played in 21 games, making three starts and averaging 12.1 minutes of playing time. That season he averaged two points and three rebounds for the Wildcats. 

Come his second year under head coach John Calipari, Ware played in 28 games but saw just 6.3 minutes of action per game. As a sophomore, he averaged 1.5 points per game and 1.9 rebounds.   

In the 2022-23 season, Ware averaged two points and two rebounds in 28 games, shooting a career high 65.8 percent from the field. 

“Lance has gotten better every year,” Calipari tweeted. “He’s an exceptional leader & as good a teammate as I’ve ever coached.” 

Ware also had a presence off the court, as he was one of two Kentucky captains last season. The Wildcats went 22-12, advancing to the second round of the NCAA tournament.  

With his time in Lexington behind him, Ware will now join a new Wildcat team. He will have two years of eligibility at Villanova. 

Ware selected Villanova over fellow Big East rivals Providence and St. John’s, both of which he visited during his time in the portal. 

Now, Ware will join Maryland transfer Hakim Hart and Washington State transfer TJ Bamba as the newest Villanova Wildcats.

The 2023-2024 season will tip off on November 6th, 2023 when Villanova faces American at the Finneran Pavilion.