STARKVILLE — The Gavin Ware show will remain a local production.
The 6-foot-8 Starkville High School center gave a verbal commitment to play basketball for Mississippi State on Thursday in a press conference at SHS.
Ware, a four-star recruit, had offers from the University of Missouri, Alabama, and Georgetown but chose to commit to coach Rick Stansbury”s club after a recent unofficial visit cleared some misconceptions about what MSU had to offer.
“That visit was a game-changer,” Ware said. “I thought it was just basketball and a downslide as far as academics. But once I visited and they showed me all the possibilities they had with the athletic academic facility, we saw this can be a good place to learn and become something.”
Ware is MSU”s third commitment for the 2012 class. He will join four-star Carver (Ala.) guard Craig Sword and Jim Hill guard Fred Thomas. All three recruits are rated in the Rivals.com Top 150.
Ware averaged 19 points, 10.5 rebounds, and five blocked shots in his junior season, raising his point production by 10 points following a sophomore season when he was the team”s third scoring option.
“I”ve never had a player his size that can do the things he does,” Starkville High coach Greg Carter said. “He”s 6-8, 240 with long arms, but he can run the floor and play above the rim. You don”t find very many bigs like that. It”s rare. I think that”s what attracted State to him.”
Toward the end of Starkville season, which ended with a second straight appearance in the Class 6A state tournament, Ware said he was interested in attending college in another state after growing up in Starkville.
But once he started going to camps this summer, he realized such a move would cause him to see less of his family.
“Most of the people that went off came back home, some way or another,” Ware said. “When I was off (at camps) I couldn”t stay three days away from home. I thought it would be good to stay at home in this environment.”
Ware”s father, Calvin, knew early on his son would decide to stick close to home.
“He can go off for a week and he”s calling on Wednesday like, ”Dad, I”m ready to come home,” ” he said, “so I”m so happy he”s signing with Mississippi State and bringing a lot to the community, as they watched him play here. I”m sure the community will come out and watch him play at Mississippi State.”
Ware”s ability to rebound and to change the game in the paint is expected from a player his size, but Ware said he has been working on his 15-foot jumper and his defense. He said MSU coaches put an onus on their post players being factors on defense.
“They said they”d love to have me on the defensive side, but it”ll be about getting down the floor, turning quickly and not just rounding off and go back the other way,” Ware said. “I”ll have to keep working on staying in shape and being conditioned to contribute like that.
Ware suffered a knee contusion and an anterior cruciate ligament strain late last season and missed the state tournament. However, he didn”t require surgery and he has competed this summer with his Amateur Athletic Union team. He said he has had only mild soreness.
“The people at OCH (Oktibbeha County Hospital) really took care of me,” Ware said. “It”s amazing all the workouts and treatments we did.”
While Ware”s physical tools helped attract potential suitors, his burgeoning demeanor on the court could take him to the next level, Carter said.
“He”s really mild-mannered, easy going, and he”ll adjust to any situation,” Carter said. “But as you continue to grow and you”re getting bigger, there comes a time when you want everyone to adjust to you. He has to take control of the court and be more of a leader. You”ve already seen it this summer, as he”s gotten more aggressive.”
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