Former Illinois guard Keaton Wagler’s NBA dreams have become a reality, as he was drafted by the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday night.
The 19-year-old heard his name get called at the Barclays Center in New York, before making an emotional trip across the stage to shake the hand of NBA commissioner Adam Silver.
A one-and-done player, Wagler averaged 17.9 points, 5.1 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game on 44.5% shooting during his freshman season with the Illini.
Those numbers were good enough to help
cement him as the Big Ten Freshman of the Year, a second-team All-American and the Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Award Winner.
As the No. 5 pick in the draft, he is officially the highest Illini NBA Draft pick since Deron Williams went third-overall to the Utah Jazz in 2003.
And his journey to this moment has been a special one.
Wagler grew up in Shawnee, Kansas, and was an overlooked recruit, receiving only three high-major scholarship offers out of high school.
After ending up committing to Illinois, it took just one season for him to grow into one of the best freshmen, and players, in the country.
From his 46-point explosion at Mackey Arena against Purdue to leading the Illini to their first Final Four in over 20 years, it’s safe to say he left his mark on the program.
Now, Wagler joins the ranks of former Illinois players competing in the NBA, with names like Will Riley, Kasparas Jakucionis, Terrence Shannon Jr. and Ayo Dosunmu at the forefront.
