(WAND) – Former Illinois star Keaton Wagler was selected as the No. 5 overall pick by the LA Clippers in the 2026 NBA draft Tuesday night.
Wagler becomes the second-highest draft pick ever at Illinois, and the highest since Deron Williams went No. 3 overall in 2005.
Wagler’s selection ties Kendall Gill, who also was selected fifth in 1990. He becomes the fourth lottery pick in Illini history, and the most recent since Meyers Leonard was chosen 11th in 2012.
Wagler becomes the fifth player selected in the NBA Draft during Head Coach Brad Underwood’s tenure, following Ayo Dosunmu (second round, 2021), Terrence Shannon Jr. (first round, 2024), Kasparas Jakucionis (first round, 2025), and Will Riley (first round, 2025), and the fourth first-round selection.
Illinois’ total of four first-round picks over the last three drafts ranks second nationally behind Duke and is tied with Michigan.
One year after Jakucionis and Riley became the first-ever one-and-done players at Illinois, Wagler repeats as a one-and-done following the best freshman season in Illini history. He was named a consensus second-team All-American, the first Illini freshman ever to earn consensus All-America honors. He also was selected as the Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year national award winner.
Wagler led Illinois to a Final Four appearance and 28-9 record, the fourth-most wins in school history. He was named the NCAA South Regional Most Outstanding Player after helping secure the Illini’s first trip to the Final Four in 21 years.
Wagler shattered the Illini freshman season scoring average (17.9 ppg) and total points (663) records, earning Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors. He burst onto the national scene following his 46-point explosion as Illinois won at No. 4 Purdue. It marked the most points ever by a Big Ten freshman as well as the Mackey Arena opponent scoring record.
Wagler is the 73rd all-time Illini draft pick. Illinois ranks 10th among all NCAA schools in most draft selections.
Wagler declared for the NBA draft in April after helping lead Illinois to its first Final Four appearance since the 2005 campaign.
