Lance Ware, who played at Kentucky for 3 seasons from 2021-2023, announced Saturday that he has committed to Villanova to play the 2023-24 season.

Ware, who was a 4-star recruit in the Class of 2023, has sat behind Oscar Tshiebwe and struggled to find and take advantage of legitimate minutes in Lexington. In 2023, Ware averaged 10 minutes per game with 2 points and 2 rebounds per game, shooting at a 66% clip.

He opted for a change of pace at the end of the season. Now, he’ll be heading from the SEC to the Big East.

Villanova and head coach Kyle Neptune are working on it, but the Wildcats are not the Wildcats of the recent past. Jay Wright exited the program following the 2022 season, leaving Neptune the reigns of the program. The Wildcats posted a semi-respectable 17-17 record in Year 1 and will now be looking to eclipse the .500 mark in 2024.

Ware is the 3rd incoming transfer addition for Villanova. He joins former Maryland forward Hakim Hart and former Washington State guard TJ Bamba.

And with a huge incoming class full of 5-star talents, Kentucky is doing the exact opposite in the transfer portal. The Wildcats have seen 4 players leave the program, including Sahvir Wheeler (Washington), CJ Frederick (Cincinnati), Daimion Collins (undecided) and, of course, Ware.