All articles tagged with #wagler
Keaton Wagler, Illinois' breakout freshman who helped the Illini reach the Final Four, has declared for the 2026 NBA Draft. He averaged 17.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game with 39.7% from three, and mock drafts project him as a lottery pick, capping a remarkable one-year run in Champaign.
Illinois defeated Iowa 71-59 in the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight in Houston, powered by Keaton Wagler’s 25 points and a dominant frontcourt that outrebounded the Hawkeyes 38-21. Bennett Stirtz led Iowa with 24 points, but Illinois pulled away late and secured a Final Four berth, where they’ll face Duke or UConn in Indianapolis.
Illinois pulled away to beat VCU 76-55 in the NCAA Tournament second round, with Keaton Wagler scoring 13 of his 14 points after halftime and Andrej Stojakovic adding 21 off the bench; VCU's Nyk Lewis left early with an ankle injury, and Illinois advances to the Sweet 16 to face Houston in Houston.
Keaton Wagler, once overlooked by high-major programs, defied the odds as a lightly recruited 6'6 guard who blossomed after Illinois offered him late in the process, embracing a development plan and proving himself on the court with breakout scoring and playmaking—highlighted by a 46-point game against Purdue and a key role in Illinois' efficient offense—making him a potential NBA prospect and a symbol of how modern recruiting can miss a future star.
On the road, No. 11 Illinois upset No. 4 Purdue 88-82 behind Wagler’s 46-point performance.
Illinois freshman Keaton Wagler scored a career-high 46 points, including 9-of-11 from 3, to lift 11th-ranked Illinois to an 88-82 road win over No. 4 Purdue at Mackey Arena, snapping Purdue’s two-game skid. Illinois dominated the glass with 18 second-chance points from 13 offensive rebounds and hit 18 three-pointers to Purdue’s seven, as Braden Smith paced theBoilermakers with 27 points in a back-and-forth game that Illinois sealed with late baskets and a Wagler jumper.