If you have not been locked into Brad Underwood’s Illinois team this season, it is time to start. The Illini are loaded with intriguing talent, but no storyline is climbing faster than the rise of true freshman guard Keaton Wagler.
Kansas Star Who Slipped Away
Wagler arrived from Shawnee Mission Northwest as the top recruit in Kansas. He was ranked No. 26 among shooting guards and No. 150 overall by 247 Sports. At 6 foot 6 and 180 pounds, he became the rare homegrown talent who got away from Bill Self and the Jayhawks.
Illinois welcomed him with open arms, and he has been as advertised: poised, skilled, and fast evolving into a reliable scoring threat.
December Sparks the Breakout
Wagler is playing his best basketball of the season. Across back to back showcase games, he posted 16 and 23 points while logging heavy minutes.
In the 75 to 62 win over Tennessee, he played 34 minutes, scored 16, pulled down eight rebounds, and handed out five assists. Days later in his Big Ten debut on the road, he erupted for 23 points with five assists and two rebounds while playing 39 minutes in an 88 to 80 victory.
A Key Piece in a Rising Backcourt
Illinois sits at 8 and 2 overall and 1 and 0 in league play, with an undefeated Nebraska team on deck. Wagler has appeared in all 10 games and ranks second on the roster in minutes behind Kylan Boswell.
Boswell leads the team at 15.7 points per game, with Wagler close behind at 14.7. He is shooting 37 percent from deep and 82.8 percent from the free throw line. Add in Andrej Stojakovic’s 15.1 points per game, and Illinois quietly boasts one of the most dangerous guard trios in the conference.
Promising Road Ahead
After hosting Nebraska, the Illini take a short break before traveling to St. Louis to meet Missouri on December 22. A final nonconference matchup with Southern follows on December 29. The New Year opens with Penn State on the road and Rutgers at home, presenting a strong chance to build early Big Ten momentum.
Their only losses came on neutral courts to Alabama and UConn, two elite programs. Illinois looks every bit like a top tier contender, and Wagler’s rapid development is a major reason why.
He is the freshman Kansas could not keep and the rising star Illinois is thrilled to have.