Ware is Glue for 49ers Program

When Casper Ware Jr. arrived as the new starting point guard at Long Beach State University, head coach Dan Monson saw something in his new floor captain.

Coming off a standout senior season at Gahr High School in Cerritos, in which the 5-foot-10 guard led the Gladiators to a 20-10 record and a second-round CIF-SS Playoff game, Ware was certainly talented, but had some work to do.

In Monson’s words, Ware was shy, which could affect him academically, but showed great potential if he applied himself an ounce more.

None of those are issues today – in fact, the unquestioned leader of the 49ers who is now amongst the best college point guards in the nation.

“There was one time when I asked our team, ‘OK, it’s three seconds left in the game, we’re down one,” Monson said. “‘Who would you want to take the shot?’ Everyone in the room said Casper Ware. It’s easy to see how he’s played – anyone can measure that. What they don’t see is how he’s improved as a person. He’s been a leader on the floor.”

This past offseason, Ware was selected as one of 50 players tabbed to the John R. Wooden Player of the Year Award list, honoring the top player in the country. He is the first 49ers player to ever be named to the list, and Ware is coming off a season in which he was the first player in Big West Conference history to win both the Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year.

In addition, he only needs 24 assists and 18 steals to become the school’s all-time leader in both categories.

“I felt good about myself, felt I’m getting recognition,” Ware said about being named to the award list. “We’re starting to get national attention, which is nice.”

Ware, who is perceived by many NBA draft experts to be a late first-round or early second-round pick in this June’s NBA Draft, is on track to earn his bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies. Whether or not he enjoys a lengthy NBA career, he said he wishes to become a sports broadcaster some day.

Currently however, Ware is finishing off a season that as of Tuesday, sees him leading the team in scoring at 16.6 points per game. He also averages 3.3 assists and 1.44 steals per game.

“Only time can tell,” Ware said of where he expects to be drafted. “I’m trying to worry about helping Long Beach State winning as many games as possible. I’m excited about (my NBA prospects), but I know I just have to work hard every day and focus on this season first.”

Another huge honor came this past August, when Ware was named the Drew League Most Valuable Player. He scored 37 points in one game against a lineup that featured NBA players such as Washington Wizards point guard John Wall, DeMar DeRozan and a guy by the name of LeBron James.

The Drew League is a summer basketball league in Los Angeles, famous for attracting some of the best players in the NBA. Ware saw that he could not only hang with some of the best professional players in the world, but also dominate at times.

“I believe my dad got me well prepared,” Ware said of his father, Casper Ware Sr. “He developed me. It was all about confidence, when to go, when not to go. LeBron told us all, ‘Just play your game, I’ll play mine. Don’t change it up just because I’m here.’ The way I scored at will in that league surprised me. Those are grown men out there.”

So far this season, Ware has helped Long Beach State slay some of the big cats on the college block. On November 16, the team’s second game of the season, the 49ers picked up a huge road win by upsetting then-No. 9-ranked Pittsburgh, 86-76, following that win with a victory over then-No. 14 Xavier on December 22, 68-58, in the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic.

The 49ers have competed down to the last few possessions against other top-ranked programs, losing in overtime to San Diego State, ranked No. 22 as of Tuesday, 77-73, as well as by eight Dec. 6 at Kansas.

Ware scored 28 points and had six assists in the win over Pittsburgh, and added 12 points and another five assists in the win over Xavier.

“Just being confident and knowing we can win those games,” Ware said of the key element in beating ranked teams. “This year, we knew we could come in there and beat them. Last year, we were like ‘Oh, we just want to stay close.’ We didn’t have that mindset of coming in there and beating them and having that confidence."

Monson knows how vital his point guard has been to his team – and will be the rest of the way.

“If we get there, it’ll be because of him,” Monson said of making the NCAA tournament. “He’s played against some of the best point guards in the country – Tu Holloway of Xavier, Tyshon Taylor of Kansas. Not one of them outplayed him.”

Long Beach State forward T.J. Robinson, who last season became one of only six players in the NCAA to averagea a double-double in consecutive seasons, has enjoyed Ware as his teammate.

“Casper always makes us better,” Robinson said. “He’s our leader, he gets everyone playing well. In those big games, he came through. He made several ‘and-one baskets’ (where a player makes a field goal and gets fouled). Getting past the hump of getting to the NCAA Tournament is one of our last steps.”

“The sky’s the limit,” Ware said of this 49ers team. “We’ve proven we’ve beaten top teams. We have to stay ready at all times. We have a target on our backs at Long Beach State.”