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Well, it's official!
Illinois freshman guard Keaton Wagler has declared for the NBA Draft, to the surprise of no one except delusional but well-meaning Illini fans trying to wish the miracle of a second season in Champaign into existence. :-)
Let's be clear. No amount of NIL money, no rationalizing about the college experience, no kid as special as Keaton, no family as seemingly grounded as the Waglers could justify staying in college for another season. The iron is hot, and it's time to strike, as was the case back in 2005 when Illinois junior Deron Williams bypassed his senior season following a Final Four run! Williams went top three in the 2005 NBA Draft, and don't be surprised if Wagler gets to as high as the fifth pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Congrats to Wagler and best wishes to him at the next level.
While the Illini have had higher-rated incoming freshmen in the past and will have more heralded recruits in the future, Illinois basketball will never get a freshman season like the one Wagler just provided. What a year it was for Wagler, rising from three-star recruit to a consensus second-team All American, and for the 2025-26 team, reaching the school's first Final Four since 2005. Here's a recent piece reflecting upon the Illini's return to the Promised Land, including Wagler's meteoric rise.
While there was buzz last summer that Wagler was much better than anticipated, no one could have expected what he had in store for his lone season as an Illini. For heaven's sake, Wagler played just 14 minutes against UCONN at Madison Square Garden the day after Thanksgiving. To think Wagler would lead Illinois to the Final Four against UCONN a little more than four months later would have been ludicrous at the time.
Of course, after the UCONN game, Illinois Head Coach Brad Underwood made the best decision of his coaching career, to put the ball in Wagler's hands and ride and die with the freshman! Personally speaking, Wagler was starting to feel like a one-and-done after Illinois victories against Tennessee and Missouri right before Christmas. He was certainly one-and-done after scoring 46 points at Purdue on January 24th.
As his national profile grew and Big Ten teams began aggressively defending him, Wagler never blinked or lost composure. With his maturity, poise and toughness, Wagler impressed beyond his talent, carrying himself with humility, grace and a competitive greatness all season long. I'll never forget Michigan's Yaxel Lendeborg, years older, several inches taller and many pounds heavier, picking up Wagler full court in Champaign at the end of February. While Lendeborg tried to intimidate and bully Wagler, the freshman from Shawnee, Kansas never cowered, continuing to get abused yet still get into the lane. What Wagler may have lacked in muscle he certainly made up for with heart, guile and fearlessness, always playing the game at his pace, which is something that cannot be taught.
After just one season in Champaign, Wagler leaves as the most impactful freshman in program history. His jersey will be rightfully raised to the rafters of the State Farm Center while, more importantly, the Illini team he played for will have a Final Four banner.
Thank you to Keaton and his family for a season that will never be forgotten, as these highlights illustrate!
Illinois freshman guard Keaton Wagler has declared for the NBA Draft, to the surprise of no one except delusional but well-meaning Illini fans trying to wish the miracle of a second season in Champaign into existence. :-)
Let's be clear. No amount of NIL money, no rationalizing about the college experience, no kid as special as Keaton, no family as seemingly grounded as the Waglers could justify staying in college for another season. The iron is hot, and it's time to strike, as was the case back in 2005 when Illinois junior Deron Williams bypassed his senior season following a Final Four run! Williams went top three in the 2005 NBA Draft, and don't be surprised if Wagler gets to as high as the fifth pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Congrats to Wagler and best wishes to him at the next level.
While the Illini have had higher-rated incoming freshmen in the past and will have more heralded recruits in the future, Illinois basketball will never get a freshman season like the one Wagler just provided. What a year it was for Wagler, rising from three-star recruit to a consensus second-team All American, and for the 2025-26 team, reaching the school's first Final Four since 2005. Here's a recent piece reflecting upon the Illini's return to the Promised Land, including Wagler's meteoric rise.
While there was buzz last summer that Wagler was much better than anticipated, no one could have expected what he had in store for his lone season as an Illini. For heaven's sake, Wagler played just 14 minutes against UCONN at Madison Square Garden the day after Thanksgiving. To think Wagler would lead Illinois to the Final Four against UCONN a little more than four months later would have been ludicrous at the time.
Of course, after the UCONN game, Illinois Head Coach Brad Underwood made the best decision of his coaching career, to put the ball in Wagler's hands and ride and die with the freshman! Personally speaking, Wagler was starting to feel like a one-and-done after Illinois victories against Tennessee and Missouri right before Christmas. He was certainly one-and-done after scoring 46 points at Purdue on January 24th.
As his national profile grew and Big Ten teams began aggressively defending him, Wagler never blinked or lost composure. With his maturity, poise and toughness, Wagler impressed beyond his talent, carrying himself with humility, grace and a competitive greatness all season long. I'll never forget Michigan's Yaxel Lendeborg, years older, several inches taller and many pounds heavier, picking up Wagler full court in Champaign at the end of February. While Lendeborg tried to intimidate and bully Wagler, the freshman from Shawnee, Kansas never cowered, continuing to get abused yet still get into the lane. What Wagler may have lacked in muscle he certainly made up for with heart, guile and fearlessness, always playing the game at his pace, which is something that cannot be taught.
After just one season in Champaign, Wagler leaves as the most impactful freshman in program history. His jersey will be rightfully raised to the rafters of the State Farm Center while, more importantly, the Illini team he played for will have a Final Four banner.
Thank you to Keaton and his family for a season that will never be forgotten, as these highlights illustrate!
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