As the No. 5 overall pick in the 2026 NBA draft, guard Keaton Wagler joins the LA Clippers after a historic freshman campaign at the University of Illinois.
Wagler was a consensus second-team All-American, averaging 17.9 points, 5.1 rebounds and 4.2 assists while shooting 39.7% from 3-point range. He set numerous freshman program records, including points (663), scoring average, field goals (202) and 3s (87).
The 19-year-old became the first Illini freshman to earn a consensus All-American selection after ranking third in the country in win shares (5.5) and 11th in total minutes (1,255). He was also the Big Ten Freshman of the Year and a first-team all-conference pick.
Wagler is the first player in franchise history to be taken with the fifth pick
and the highest drafted since Blake Griffin (2009, No. 1). He is Illinois' third top-10 pick in the draft era (1966), joining Kendall Gill (1990, No. 5) and Deron Williams (2005, No. 3).
The Kansas native debuted with the Clippers in the NBA Summer League, averaging 18 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.8 assists while shooting 33.3% from 3-point range in four games. He scored 20 or more points twice, including a 26-point effort on July 17.
Wagler enters the season with the eighth-highest odds for Rookie of the Year. He will have high expectations as a top-five pick and should be in store for a productive year.
Throughout September, Rookie Wire is compiling some of the most interesting facts about each first-round pick in an effort to further introduce the incoming draft class ahead of the 2026-27 season
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Basketball Family
Wagler continued a longstanding family tradition of playing basketball by attending Shawnee Mission Northwest High School (Kansas). His parents, Logan and Jennifer, met and played basketball at Hutchinson Community College, while his older brother, Landon, also played there.
His sister, Brooklyn, played, winning a junior college national championship at Kansas City Kansas CC. He also revealed that two of his uncles, an aunt, a grandfather and a great-grandfather also played basketball over the years.
High School
Wagler led Shawnee Mission NW to back-to-back Kansas Class 6A championships as a junior and a senior, its first titles in history. He was the 2024-25 Kansas Gatorade Player of the Year, becoming the first winner in program history.
Volunteering
Wagler has volunteered locally as an elementary school aide, and he has donated his time as a youth basketball coach and camp counselor. He even returned to Illinois last week alongside teammate Kylan Boswell to sign autographs and take pictures with fans.
No. 1
Wagler wore No. 3 in high school before switching to No. 23 last season at Illinois. With No. 23 taken on the Clippers by teammate Isaiah Jackson, Wagler opted to wear No. 1.
"I kind of just picked it," Wagler said, via the NBA on X. "The jersey number I used to wear wasn't available, so 1, I thought, was a good number, and it is kind of like new beginnings."
Big Ten Record
Wagler erupted for a 46-point performance on Jan. 24 in a win over No. 4 Purdue, setting the Big Ten freshman scoring record and the most points scored in a top-10 win on the road. He also knocked down a program-record nine 3-pointers while setting the scoring record at Mackey Arena by a visiting player. Wagler would later say it was one of his favorite memories with the Fighting Illini.
This article originally appeared on Rookie Wire: 5 fun facts: Get to know Clippers' Keaton Wagler before 2026-27 season
