The Illinois Fighting Illini lost two players yesterday night, including projected top-10 lottery pick Keaton Wagler, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania and Jeremy Woo.
“Illinois freshman guard Keaton Wagler – ranked No. 5 in ESPN’s Top 100 – has declared for the 2026 NBA draft, his agency ProMondo Sports tells Jeremy Woo and me,” Sharania tweeted.
Projected High-Lottery Pick Among 3 Fighting Illini To Exit Program
It is not a surprise that Waggler, who was one of the biggest surprises in college basketball, has decided to turn pro. A top-150 recruit, Waggler had a historic freshman season while also helping the Illini to the Final Four. The 2026 second-team consensus All-American selection was one of three freshmen to compile 17 points, five rebounds, and four assists. He also produced three double-doubles and made 2.4 threes a game with shooting splits of 44.5/39.7/79.6.
Wagler set two Illinois freshmen scoring records, total points (663) and 20-point games (11). The Big Ten Freshman of the Year and Jerry West Shooting Guard Award winner also set the conference freshman mark with 46 points against Purdue. Overall, he scored in double figures in 29 of 37 contests.
“The past year has been the journey of a lifetime,” Wagler wrote on Instagram. “I never could have imagined what this season had in store for us. Our Final Four run is something I will cherish for the rest of my life.”
Wagler is the third one-and-done Illini player in the last two seasons. Will Riley and Kasparas Jakucionas left after one campaign in Champaigne last season. Both were first-round picks in 2025.
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