CHAMPAIGN — In a move that was widely expected after his breakout freshman season with the Illinois men’s basketball team, Keaton Wagler is heading to the NBA.
ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania and ESPN NBA draft analyst Jeremy Woo reported on Saturday night that Wagler will declare for the upcoming NBA draft, according to his agency.
Wagler, a 6-foot-6 guard out of Shawnee, Kan., had arguably the best freshman season by an Illini in program history in helping lead Illinosi to a 28-9 record and the first trip to the Final Four by Illinois since 2005. A consensus Second Team All-American and the Big Ten Freshman of the Year, Wagler averaged 17.9 points, 5.1 rebounds and 4.3 assists during his lone season at Illinois.
He is projected in several mock drafts to be a lottery pick when the draft takes place in late June.