In December, as Keaton Wagner’s name began circulatingamong NBA Draft circles and speculation about a potential one‑and‑done pick grew, the Wagler family made a decision.
“We had one conversation with his agents,” Logan Wagler, Keaton’s father, said. “We don’t want to have those conversations. We don’t want to know. We don’t want to get excited.”
Wagler experienced one of the most surprising freshman seasons in college basketball history. A recruit with only three high‑major scholarship offers out of high school and ranked No. 261 in the 247Sports Composite, he earned second‑team All‑American honors and was named the Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA Tournament South Regional. He burst onto the national spotlight with a 46‑point performance in a road victory over Purdue in January.
Finally, the moment arrived. A week after Connecticut’s Final Four loss, Illinois head coach Brad Underwood, his assistant and son Tyler Underwood, assistant Zach Hamer, and strength coach Adam Fletcher traveled to Kansas to meet with the family. Wagler conferred with his agents to review his options once more and said he had decided, but he took an additional day to be certain.
Logan and Jennifer Wagler spent the entire day awaiting their son’s decision while he played “Guitar Hero” and watched television.
Finally, Wagler descended the stairs and asked his parents, “So do you guys want to know?”
Of course!
“I’m going to the NBA.”
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