Illinois freshman guard Keaton Wagler declares for NBA Draft appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Illinois basketball garnered an early No. 1 ranking over Michigan after the 2025-26 season wrapped up. But the Illini must now operate without Keaton Wagler heading into next season as he heads to the NBA Draft.
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The prized freshman, who sparked the Final Four return for Illinois, declared for the draft Saturday. ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania confirmed the decision.
The departing Illini star left a lengthy social media message announcing his decision.
“This past year has been the journey of a lifetime. I never could have imagined what this season had in store for us. Our Final Four run is something I will cherish for the rest of my life,” Wagler began. “The Illini fans are the best in the world. I’ll never forget the feeling of hearing State Farm Center go crazy for the kid from Shawnee, Kansas.
He thanked his coaches and fans in the post. Wagler dropped 20 points on UConn despite taking the loss out in Indianapolis. He emerged as one of the glues who kept Illinois together amid a brief losing slump.
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The freshman lit up rival Iowa too with a trip to the Final Four on the line, hitting 25 points in the regional final showdown. Wagler even delivered a double-double against 2025 national title game runner-up Houston (13 points with 12 rebounds).
Head coach Brad Underwood now must replace a guard who dropped 17.9 points per game each night. Wagler also shot 44.5% from the floor.
The 6-foot-6 guard brings top five talent to the league. Teams will fawn over Wagler’s shooting consistency and grit on the floor. But NBA franchises likely saw Wagler run the offense at both guard spots, displaying his versatility.
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