Champaign, IL (WAND) – Fresh off leading the Illini to a Final Four berth, Keaton Wagler has declared for the NBA draft.

Wagler announced the news in an April 11 Instagram post.

In the post, Wagler said Champaign will always hold a “special place” in his heart.

“The Illini fans are the best in the world. I’ll never forget the feeling of hearing State Farm Center go crazy for the kid from Shawnee, Kansas. Thank you to Coach Underwood and the entire Illinois staff for believing in me when others did not,” Wagler said in the post.

Wagler became the first freshman in program history to be named a consensus All-American.

According to Illinois Athletics, he finished with nine 20-point games during the 2025-26 season, one shy of the Illini freshman program record.

He also finished as the National Player of the Week after a record-setting 46-point outing at No. 4 Purdue in January.