Chambana Sun

Illinois head coach Brad Underwood has announced the signing of Keaton Wagler to a Big Ten Athletics Scholarship Agreement. The announcement was made on Thursday, marking an important addition to the Illinois basketball team.

Keaton Wagler, a 6-foot-6 guard from Shawnee, Kansas, is recognized as a four-star recruit by 247Sports. He is ranked as the No. 150 player overall in the class of 2025 and holds the position of No. 28 shooting guard.

Wagler currently attends Shawnee Mission Northwest High School where he plays under coach David Birch. During his junior year, he averaged 12.5 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game while maintaining impressive shooting percentages: 52% from the field, 50% from beyond the arc, and 80% from the free throw line.

In addition to his high school achievements, Wagler led his team to a flawless season with a record of 25-0 and secured the Kansas Class 6A championship in 2024—the first state title in Shawnee Mission Northwest's history. His performance earned him first-team all-state honors in Class 6A by the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association and second-five distinction in all-state top rankings across all classes by the Kansas State High School Activities Association.

Beyond high school basketball, Wagler also showcased his skills on the AAU circuit with VWBA Elite under coach Victor Williams.

"Keaton is a young man who can play multiple positions on the perimeter and fits us with positional size, elite shooting ability, strong work ethic, and a winner's mentality," Underwood said about Wagler's potential contribution to Illinois. "He comes from a great basketball family, is a high IQ player, and won a Kansas state championship—the first ever for his school. Keaton has an extremely bright future ahead; we're excited that will be as a Fighting Illini."