Wagler Named Finalist for West Award
March 10, 2026 | Men's Basketball
News
CHAMPAIGN, Ill.– The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame announced Tuesday that Fighting Illini freshman Keaton Wagler (Shawnee, Kan.) is one of five finalists for the 2026 Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Award.
Wagler is having a historic freshman season with the Illini. He shattered the school's freshman scoring record – currently with 554 points – and at 17.9 ppg, he is on pace to set the program's rookie scoring average record as well. He has scored in double figures in each of the last 23 games, and 28 times on the season, with a total of nine 20-point games. Wagler was a six-time Big Ten Freshman of the Week and earned National Player of the Week accolades after his record-setting 46 points in the win at No. 4 Purdue on Jan. 24 that marked the most points by any player in a top-10 road win and the most ever by a Big Ten freshman. He has had additional marquee scoring performances, including 28 points in the win at No. 5 Nebraska on Feb. 1, and 34 points vs. Wisconsin on Feb. 10.
2026 Jerry West Award Finalists
Brayden Burries, Arizona
Isaiah Evans, Duke
Emanuel Sharp, Houston
Keaton Wagler, Illinois
Solo Ball, UConn
Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Announces Five Finalists for the 2026 Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Award. ????#HoophallU | #WestAward pic.twitter.com/MeeNxv2GuQ
— University of Hoophall (@hoophallu) March 10, 2026
Named after the late Class of 1980 Hall of Famer and 1959 NCAA Final Four Most Valuable Player, the Jerry West Award celebrates its 12th year by highlighting the top shooting guards in Division I men's college basketball.
In partnership with the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA), five finalists for the 2026 Ann Meyers Drysdale Award also were announced, honoring the top shooting guards in NCAA Division I women's basketball.
Fans are encouraged to participate in Fan Voting in both of the remaining rounds starting on Friday, March 13, at 12 p.m. CT on hoophallawards.com. The Fan Vote will count as one committee vote during the finalist selection process.
Later this month, the finalists will be presented to West and Meyers Drysdale and the Hall of Fame's selection committees. The Selection Committees for the Jerry West and Ann Meyers Drysdale Awards are composed of top men's and women's college basketball personnel, including media members, head coaches, sports information directors, and Hall of Famers.
The winners of the 2026 West and Meyers Drysdale Awards will be presented on a to-be-determined date, along with the other four members of the Men's and Women's Starting Five. Additional awards being presented include the Bob Cousy and Nancy Lieberman Awards (Point Guard), Julius Erving and Cheryl Miller Awards (Small Forward), Karl Malone and Katrina McClain Awards (Power Forward), and the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Lisa Leslie Awards (Center).
Previous winners of the Jerry West Award include Chaz Lanier, Tennessee (2025), RJ Davis, North Carolina (2024), Marcus Sasser, Houston (2023), Myles Powell, Seton Hall (2020), RJ Barrett, Duke (2019), Malik Monk, Kentucky (2017), Buddy Hield, Oklahoma (2016), and D'Angelo Russell, Ohio State (2015).
For more information on the 2026 Jerry West and Ann Meyers Drysdale Awards and the latest updates, visit hoophallawards.com and follow @hoophallu, #WestAward, and #MeyersDrysdaleAward on X and Instagram.
