Keaton Wagler Is Lighting Up College Hoops-and Coaches Are Taking Notice
We’re deep into a college basketball season that’s been dominated by a freshman class for the ages, and right in the thick of it is Illinois guard Keaton Wagler. If you haven’t been paying attention, now’s the time to start-because Wagler isn’t just playing well, he’s putting together one of the most impressive rookie campaigns in the country.
The 6-foot-6 freshman just dropped 46 points on Purdue at Mackey Arena-no easy feat in one of the Big Ten’s toughest venues. That kind of performance doesn’t happen by accident.
Wagler’s averaging 18.5 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game, and he’s doing it while running the nation’s most efficient offense, according to KenPom. That’s not just production-that’s command.
And here’s the kicker: Wagler wasn’t even a top-100 recruit coming out of high school. Neither 247Sports nor Rivals/On3 had him ranked among the elite. Illinois saw something others didn’t, and now they’ve got a star on their hands.
Indiana head coach Darian DeVries knows exactly what his Hoosiers are up against when they head to Champaign. Speaking ahead of Sunday’s matchup, DeVries didn’t hold back in his assessment of Wagler’s game.
“He’s tough,” DeVries said. “They do such a good job of putting you in situations where you’ve gotta choose if you wanna switch or if you wanna commit to the ball, and then he makes the right decision.”
That decision-making is part of what separates Wagler from most freshmen. He’s not just scoring-he’s processing.
He reads defenses, manipulates coverages, and punishes mistakes. And when Illinois spaces the floor like they do, it becomes a pick-your-poison scenario for opposing defenses.
The Illini rank 8th nationally in three-point attempts per field goal attempt and knock down 36.1% of those looks. So if you double Wagler, he’ll find the open shooter-and they’ll make you pay.
DeVries also pointed out Wagler’s ability to attack off the dribble. Despite a wiry frame, Wagler uses his 6’6” size to create mismatches.
He’s quick enough to blow by defenders and long enough to finish over help. And if you give him space?
He’ll pull up and bury it.
“When he does get the switch, he’ll shoot it from anywhere,” DeVries said. “So you have to be so close, and then if you’re too close, he’s going by you and making the right play a lot of the time.”
That kind of versatility is rare, especially in a freshman. DeVries even likened Wagler’s scoring bursts to those of Indiana’s own Lamar Wilkerson-another guard known for getting hot in a hurry.
“He has that ability, a little bit like Lamar, where he can get ’em in a hurry,” DeVries added. “So, yeah, I think you’ve gotta try to do as best a job as you can, make sure he’s got your focus all the time and not let him get started, ’cause once he does, he’s really difficult to bring back.”
That’s the challenge for every team facing Illinois right now: keep Wagler from finding his rhythm. Because once he does, it’s not just a scoring run-it’s a full-blown takeover.
Wagler’s emergence is one of the best stories in college basketball this season. From under-the-radar recruit to centerpiece of the nation’s top offense, he’s proving that star power isn’t about rankings-it’s about results. And right now, Keaton Wagler is delivering them in bunches.