Kevin Ware visiting Georgia State, interested in Auburn

Former Louisville guard Kevin Ware, who recently announced his intentions to transfer from the school, will visit Georgia State this weekend, Ware's mother Lisa Junior said.

Junior said Georgia State and Auburn have emerged as her son's primary suitors. Junior said she and Ware's stepfather plan to come to Louisville on April 25 to help Ware move back to Atlanta, and that he would probably pick a school after they are able to sit down as a family.

"I just want to be sure he's OK mentally," Junior said in a telephone interview. "I know he's been through a lot and at times he seems weaker than others. Sometimes he seems like he's got it all together. Sometimes, with what he's gone through, you can look at it and see it on his face that he's tired. He just needs some confidence and some stability and just the reassurance that everything is going to be fine."

Ware suffered a gruesome compound fracture in his lower right leg in Louisville's NCAA tournament win over Duke last season. He made an inspirational and surprising return during an exhibition game in November, but the rest of this season was a struggle.

Ware gained attention for missing a court date for a reckless driving charge he received after borrowing a friend's car. And on the court, it became clear his leg was not at full strength. In December, Ware was shut down for the year, with the intention of seeking a medical redshirt that would leave him with two years of eligibility remaining.

Ware stopped practicing with U of L in January and gradually stopped attending games. Junior said sitting out was difficult on her son, and that his visits home to Atlanta became more frequent as the semester progressed. On March 30, Ware announced that he planned to transfer.

"With everything going on with not playing or being able to get with the new team, it made him feel like he might not have a place [at Louisville]," Junior said. "So as far as options are concerned, he just has really been trying to get back home."

Junior said that soon after the news of his impending transfer became public, numerous schools began to contact Ware's basketball trainer to see if there was mutual interest. But right now, Junior said, geography is the most important factor.

She said schools in Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee and South Carolina would seem to meet her son's desire to be close to home.

Georgia State, which is based in Atlanta, would be an intriguing landing spot for Ware. Led by former Kentucky point guard Ryan Harrow, the Panthers went 17-1 in the Sun Belt Conference this season. Junior said Harrow and Ware are former AAU teammates.

Auburn, meanwhile, is now coached by Bruce Pearl, who was the head coach at Tennessee when Ware originally committed to play there. Ware recently made positive posts on Twitter about his relationship with Pearl.

Ware's father, Kevin Sr., said last week that Ware has also shown interest in the University of South Carolina.

"But he told me Georgia State was coming at him hard," Ware Sr. said.

Last week Ware found a slice of good news in this tumultuous year, as an X-ray showed that his right leg was fully healed. He now trains with no restrictions.

"One obstacle at a time out of the way, and that was a major obstacle right there," Junior said. "Now we're gonna get him back home, see where he's at, and find the best situation for him."

Adam Himmelsbach can be reached at 502-582-4372 by email ahimmelsbach@courier-journal.com and on Twitter @adamhimmelsbach.