Keaton Wagler Is Turning Heads - And Not Just in Champaign
PEORIA - It’s not every day a freshman draws comparisons to an NBA MVP. But that’s exactly what Illinois head coach Brad Underwood sees in Keaton Wagler, likening his rising star to none other than Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. And if that sounds like high praise, it’s because Wagler is earning every bit of it.
At 6-foot-6, Wagler is a smooth, slithery combo guard who’s doing more than just holding his own in the Big Ten - he’s thriving. He’s one of only two freshmen in the nation averaging at least 17 points, five rebounds, and four assists this season.
And in conference play, he’s stepped it up even more, ranking fifth in scoring with 20.8 points per game. That’s not just good for a freshman - that’s elite, period.
Wagler’s all-around game and advanced feel for the sport are catching the eyes of NBA scouts, and mock drafts are starting to reflect it. He’s now being projected as a top-six pick, and it’s easy to see why.
ESPN’s Jay Bilas recently weighed in, comparing Wagler’s game to Tyrese Haliburton - another long, cerebral guard who blossomed into an NBA All-Star. Bilas made the comparison in a viral video, highlighting Wagler’s underrated rise and high-level feel for the game.
“When you look back at a player like Tyrese Haliburton at Iowa State, there are some similarities there,” Bilas said. “Maybe not the highest regarded, but nobody cares where you’re ranked.
It’s going to be a great story later on, but nobody’s going to care because when you can play, you can play. And Keaton Wagler can play.”
That’s not just lip service. Bilas broke down what makes Wagler special - his size, his versatility, his court vision - but he kept coming back to one thing: Wagler’s basketball IQ.
“He’s going to be an outstanding NBA player whenever he decides to move on to that level,” Bilas said. “He’s got an extraordinary feel for the game of basketball.
It’s not that you can say this is the one skill that sets him apart. He’s multi-skilled, and his best skill might be his basketball IQ and his processing of the game at speed.”
That last part is what separates good prospects from great ones. Processing the game at speed - seeing plays unfold before they happen, making the right read in real time - that’s what NBA teams are paying attention to. And Wagler’s doing it as a freshman.
The Illini staff saw something special in Wagler early on. Brad Underwood was tipped off by his son, assistant coach Tyler Underwood, who urged him to take a closer look. That trust is paying off in a big way.
Wagler’s recent inclusion on the John R. Wooden Award late midseason top 20 watch list is just the latest sign that his star is rising fast.
And it’s not hype - it’s production, poise, and polish. He’s not just putting up numbers; he’s impacting games, dictating tempo, and making winning plays.
Whether it’s comparisons to Gilgeous-Alexander or Haliburton, the message is clear: Keaton Wagler isn’t just a name to watch - he’s already arrived. And if this trajectory holds, it won’t be long before we’re watching him do the same thing at the next level.