Seems like a long time ago when Kevin Ware broke his leg in that NCAA basketball game against Duke, becoming a celebrity around the world. A lot of things have changed for Ware in a time span of two years.
Ware dropped off the University of Louisville basketball team after playing in nine games during the 2013-14. After receiving approval from the NCAA for a medical redshirt, he returned home to Atlanta to recuperate. He joined the Georgia State University program for the 2014-15 season.
Quite an adjustment for Ware, playing in the 3,500-seat GSU Arena, where the average attendance is 1,709 fans per game. He’s happy to be back on the court, wanting to be known for his basketball abilities, not the guy who broke his leg on national television. But his celebrity has followed him to his new location.
“A lot of people want to talk to me about my injury or they will just stare at me, so sadly yes, but I don’t let it go to my head,” he said during a recent interview.
His number 5 sold a lot of UofL shirts after the injury, but he wearing a zero this season. “I wanted to be the number 5 when I came here, but I think it is retired so it was only right that I chose 0 for a fresh start. Next year, I will probably take over 55.”
Ware, classified as a redshirt junior, is a backup guard, averaging 7.7 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.4 assists per outing after 29 games. He scored eight points in Georgia State’s most recent game, a 78-69 win over Troy.
Georgia State, which a 13-5 conference record, is currently is a three-way tie for first place in the Sun Belt Conference, sharing the spot with Louisiana-Monroe and Georgia Southern. They will play at Louisiana-Monroe Thursday and host Georgia Southern on Saturday.
Among his teammates is Ryan Harrow, a much-discussed guard on Kentucky’s 2013 NIT team. He’s the team’s leading scorer, averaging 20.3 points per game.