The latest installment of the Nova Notebook introduces us to transfer student Lance Ware in the summer after he exchanged one set of Wildcats' togs (Kentucky) for another (Villanova).
 
As he scanned the college basketball landscape last spring after announcing his intention to transfer after three seasons at the University of Kentucky, it was natural Lance Ware would peer in the direction of home. The notion of playing near family and friends after beginning his college career in Lexington, Ky., resonated with the 6-9 forward.
 
"There's definitely a lot more than just playing basketball that goes into picking a school," said Ware during a recent chat inside Finneran Pavilion. "It had to be the right fit. You have to pick the people and the culture you want to be around.
 
"Being close to home and knowing people that went here, hearing the good things they had to say about the family atmosphere, made me think this could be a great fit."
 
Ware's insight came courtesy of his connection to the family of Wildcats' legend and two-time NCAA national champion Jalen Brunson. Rick Brunson coached Ware at Camden High School and the forward remains close to the family. These days, Rick Brunson is an assistant coach with the New York Knicks and son Jalen quickly became a Madison Square Garden fan favorite – alongside former college teammate Josh Hart – in 2022-23.
 
"The thing that stands out to me about Jalen is how smart he is and how tough he is as a basketball player," Ware stated.
 
That kind of grit lives in Ware too. It figures to serve Ware well as he adjusts to life as a Villanova Wildcat. At 6-9 he brings a shot-blocking and rebounding dimension to a roster that hopes to bolster its interior defense. At the offensive end, the Burlington, N.J., native moves well without the basketball and should be the beneficiary of some productive pick-and roll action with guards Justin Moore, Mark Armstrong, and TJ Bamba.
 
Ware has been at Villanova since early June, taking summer courses and absorbing every morsel of information he can about his new team.
 
"It's definitely been different," he said. "But it kind of gave me a fresh start and a re-set. Taking on new tasks and trying to learn everything the coaches and players are teaching us has been good for me."
 
With 77 games of college experience already on his resume, Ware brings a knowledge base that can also benefit the Wildcats.
 
"I play super-hard, physical, vocal," stated Ware. "I'm not going to scream at (a teammate) or get in your face. I'm going to try to show through my actions, just go about my business the right way every day."
 
Ware's basketball path includes another notable name. In his formative years, he was tutored by one-time University of Louisville forward, "Never Nervous" Pervis Ellison. Ellison helped lead the Cardinals to the 1986 NCAA national championship as a freshman.
 
When he first worked with Ellison, Ware was unaware of his mentor's own hoops legend.
 
"My Dad (Stephen Ware) told me about it," Ware said.
 
Of course, Ellison himself – also 6-9 - wasn't shy about reminding his pupil that he had once scaled college basketball's highest mountain top.
 
"(Ellison) never failed to bring it up," Ware stated with a chuckle. "I watched film of him (at Louisville), but there wasn't too much of it since it was so long ago. I kid him about that."
 
Yet Ware believes he benefitted from Ellison's guidance early in his hoops journey.
 
"He's a good guy who helped me learn the game," Ware noted.
 
Ware says he also absorbed much from Rick Brunson in his time at Camden High School. As a senior Ware helped lead Camden to a 29-1 record, including 25 consecutive victories to conclude the campaign.
 
"Things that I took from Rick are how to approach the game and how to play smart," Ware said. "He helped me learn how to play the right way and make good decisions. He coached his son up to be a superstar player. Everything he tells me, I listen to."
 
In the eight weeks he has been at Villanova, Ware has liked what he has seen of his new teammates and coaches.
 
"I think it all plays perfectly for me," said Ware. "Everybody plays super hard in practices. The coaches coach hard. We lift and train hard. Just having that aspect of everybody giving their best at all times, really helps. I feel like I fit right in with that."
 
Ware, who retains two seasons of college eligibility, has come to learn that a college basketball campaign usually offers its share of ups and downs. That's an area where his experience helps him remain grounded.
 
"It's about teamwork and everybody staying the course," he said. "You're going to lose games. If you do, you can't get too down on yourself. You've got to be able to bounce back. It's a long season. Being able to chip away, one game at a time, and be positive goes a long way."
 
And it doesn't hurt that in 2023-24, Ware will be only a manageable car ride from his New Jersey home.