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WATCH: Kel'el Ware rejects a dunk attempt by Vladimer Salaridze with one hand

Wade-Peeryby:Wade Peery•12/14/22
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(Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)

Oregon superstar freshman Kel’el Ware was one of the most highly touted prospects in America coming out of high school. He’s been busy showing college basketball fans exactly why this season. On Wednesday night against UC Riverside in back-to-back highlight plays, Ware rejected a shot at one end, then slammed home an alley-oop on the next play down the floor.

UC Riverside’s Vladimer Salaridze thought it was a good idea to try and slam one home on Wednesday night. Ware had other ideas and humiliated him in mid-air with an epic one-handed rejection, leaving Salaridze tumbling to the ground after getting rejected.

Check it out.

Simply put, you don’t get labeled as the No. 2 center in the 2022 cycle and a five-star prospect by accident. Ware was also rated as the No. 6 overall player in his class, according to the On3 Consensus Rankings.

It was a highlight filled evening for Ware. Check it out as he catches the alley-oop for the slam at the other end.

He’s averaging 9.7 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.7 blocks, and 1.0 assists per game this year for the Ducks. Ware racked up four blocks against the Nevada Wolfpack on Dec. 10, the season-high for him.

While suiting up for the North Little Rock Wildcats (North Little Rock, Ark.), Ware led them to back-to-back state championships. He averaged 21.2 points, 12.0 rebounds, and 5.7 blocks. Ware was also named a McDonald’s All-American.

Oregon held off UC Riverside in the closing minutes to prevail, 71-65. Oregon’s Brennan Rigsby led the team in scoring with 19 points in 37 minutes of work. The Ducks also had another big game from their gifted big man, N’Faly Dante. He poured in 14 points, grabbed five rebounds, and dished out four assists. Dante is one of the more skilled big men in America and he’s certainly been playing like it lately. He’s currently averaging 13.3 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.3 blocks, and 1.2 assists per game.