It has been a fun ride watching Illinois basketball star Keaton Wagler grow up before our eyes.
I don’t think I have been this attached to a player, especially one who is a one-and-done. The Illini had one of the best players, on and off the floor, coming through the program with Wagler.
As Wagler waits to hear his name called, he is getting around and making sure he looks sharp for the cameras. He will be one of the players in the green room, as commissioner Adam Silver starts calling names on Tuesday night.
Before the festivities begin, the Illinois basketball social media page was able to get a clip of Wagler hours before his life changes forever.
Shoutout to the Orange and Blue 🟠🔵 pic.twitter.com/fZwB8KUvif
— Illinois Men's Basketball (@IlliniMBB) June 23, 2026
This isn’t just a regular getup coming from Wagler’s closet either. He is decked out in a full, what looks to be, gray-ish blue suit. This includes a stripped buttoned-down collared shirt. Wagler is also sporting an orange tie, for obvious reasons.
What caps the look off is what Wagler is doing with his feet. He is wearing loafers that look to be made of suede, and on the top front, he has his initials embroidered into both shoes.
Dressed for the occasion. pic.twitter.com/4muK7JfidH
— Illinois Men's Basketball (@IlliniMBB) June 23, 2026
The saying is dress for the job you want, not the job you have. Wagler looks like a million bucks, and by the end of the week, he will be making well north of a million bucks with a nice rookie contract with an NBA franchise.
A sudden jump in the NBA mock drafts has Keaton Wagler going higher than previously thought
Over the past few months, the stock of Wagler has gone up and down. He has been as high as No. 4 in NBA mock drafts, and I think the lowest I have seen him is No. 8.
Just about a day ago, the Yahoo! mock draft by Kevin O’Connor had Wagler going No. 8 overall to the Atlanta Hawks. This would be one of the ideal landing spots, as they have a bright future.
Well, hours before the draft, O’Connor updated the mock draft, and Wagler is on the move. He is now moving up two spots to No. 6. The suitor would be the Brooklyn Nets.
I would argue this is the last place I want Wagler to end up. Nets are a dark hole that has no future whatsoever. If he can succeed there, he can succeed anywhere.
Hopefully, in the next few hours, we will see the Nets either not be able to take Wagler or pass up on him. I want Wagler to go somewhere good, and Brooklyn is not ideal.
Add us as a preferred source on Google