NaismithTrophy.com
CHAMPAIGN, Ill.– Illini star freshman point guard Keaton Wagler has been named to the Naismith Trophy Men's College Player of the Year Late-Season Team, the Atlanta Tipoff Club announced Thursday.
Naismith Trophy Late-Season Team
| Darius Acuff Jr. |
Freshman |
Guard |
Arkansas |
SEC |
| Nate Ament |
Freshman |
Forward |
Tennessee |
SEC |
| Christian Anderson |
Sophomore |
Guard |
Texas Tech |
Big 12 |
| Flory Bidunga |
Sophomore |
Forward |
Kansas |
Big 12 |
| Cameron Boozer |
Freshman |
Forward |
Duke |
ACC |
| Jaden Bradley |
Senior |
Guard |
Arizona |
Big 12 |
| Brayden Burries |
Freshman |
Guard |
Arizona |
Big 12 |
| Silas Demary Jr. |
Junior |
Guard |
UConn |
BIG EAST |
| AJ Dybantsa |
Freshman |
Forward |
BYU |
Big 12 |
| Zuby Ejiofor |
Senior |
Forward |
St. John's |
BIG EAST |
| Jeremy Fears Jr. |
Sophomore |
Guard |
Michigan State |
Big Ten |
| Kingston Flemings |
Freshman |
Guard |
Houston |
Big 12 |
| Ja'Kobi Gillespie |
Senior |
Guard |
Tennessee |
SEC |
| Keyshawn Hall |
Senior |
Forward |
Auburn |
SEC |
| Thomas Haugh |
Junior |
Forward |
Florida |
SEC |
| Graham Ike |
Graduate Student |
Forward |
Gonzaga |
WCC |
| Joshua Jefferson |
Senior |
Forward |
Iowa State |
Big 12 |
| Alex Karaban |
Senior |
Forward |
UConn |
BIG EAST |
| Yaxel Lendeborg |
Graduate Student |
Forward |
Michigan |
Big Ten |
| Ebuka Okorie |
Freshman |
Guard |
Stanford |
ACC |
| Darryn Peterson |
Freshman |
Guard |
Kansas |
Big 12 |
| Labaron Philon Jr. |
Sophomore |
Guard |
Alabama |
SEC |
| Pryce Sandfort |
Junior |
Forward |
Nebraska |
Big Ten |
| Braden Smith |
Senior |
Guard |
Purdue |
Big Ten |
| Bennett Stirtz |
Senior |
Guard |
Iowa |
Big Ten |
| Tyler Tanner |
Sophomore |
Guard |
Vanderbilt |
SEC |
| Bruce Thornton |
Senior |
Guard |
Ohio State |
Big Ten |
| JT Toppin |
Junior |
Forward |
Texas Tech |
Big 12 |
| Keaton Wagler |
Freshman |
Guard |
Illinois |
Big Ten |
| Caleb Wilson |
Freshman |
Forward |
North Carolina |
ACC |
Wagler Notes
• Only NCAA freshmen averaging at least 18 points, 4.5 rebounds and four assists this season
• Leads the nation in offensive rating among players with at least 24% possessions used at 135.3
• Ranks sixth in the kenpom national player of the year ratings, and second among Big Ten players
• Current scoring average of 18.1 points is on pace to break the Illini all-time freshman season scoring record set in 1993-94 (Kiwane Garris, 15.9 ppg)
• Fifth in the Big Ten in scoring during conference play, averaging 20.8 points
• Has scored in double figures in each of the last 19 games, and 24 times on the season
• Has eight 20-point games, closing in on the Illini freshman season record of 10 (Kasparas Jakucionis)
• Six-time Big Ten Freshman of the Week, the second-most freshman awards in school history (Kofi Cockburn, 7)
• National Player of the Week following his record-setting 46-point performance in a win at No. 4 Purdue (Jan. 24)
