Associated Press Story
CHAMPAIGN, Ill.– Illini freshman guard Keaton Wagler has been named a second-team All-American by The Associated Press. Wagler is the first freshman in Illinois history to be named an All-American by the AP. He is the fifth AP All-American in the last six years of the Brad Underwood era, and the 22nd in school history.
Wagler Season Highlights
• First-Team All-American by Bleacher Report
• Second-Team All-American by The Sporting News, Associated Press, and Field of 68
• Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Award Finalist
• Big Ten Freshman of the Year and First-Team All-Big Ten
• NABC All-Great Lakes District First Team
• Lute Olson Award Finalist
• Kyle Macy Award Finalist
• Wooden Award National Ballot
• Naismith Trophy Late-Season Team
• One of three NCAA freshmen averaging at least 17 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4.0 assists
• Second in the nation in offensive rating among players with at least 24% possessions used at 131.3
• Seventh in the kenpom national player of the year standings
• Shattered Illinois freshman season scoring record, currently with 573 points
• Scoring average of 17.9 points is on pace to also break the Illini all-time freshman scoring average record set in 1993-94
• Scored in double figures in each of the last 24 games, and 29 times on the season
• Nine 20-point games, one away from the Illini freshman season record
• National Player of the Week following record-setting 46-point performance in a win at No. 4 Purdue (Jan. 24)
2025-26 AP All-America Team
First Team
Darius Acuff Jr., Arkansas
Cameron Boozer, Duke
AJ Dybantsa, BYU
Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan
JT Toppin, Texas Tech
Second Team
Jeremy Fears Jr., Michigan State
Joshua Jefferson, Iowa State
Braden Smith, Purdue
Keaton Wagler, Illinois
Caleb Wilson, North Carolina
Third Team
Christian Anderson, Texas Tech
Kingston Flemings, Houston
Thomas Haugh, Florida
Graham Ike, Gonzaga
Labaron Philon, Alabama
Illinois All-Time AP All-Americans
First Team
Kofi Cockburn, 2022
Ayo Dosunmu, 2021
Second Team
Keaton Wagler, 2026
Kofi Cockburn, 2021
Dee Brown, 2006
Dee Brown, 2005
Luther Head, 2005
Ken Norman, 1987
Derek Harper, 1983
Skip Thoren, 1965
Rod Fletcher, 1952
Dike Eddleman, 1949
Dike Eddleman, 1948
Third Team
Terrence Shannon Jr., 2024
Deron Williams, 2005
Brian Cook, 2003
Frank Williams, 2001
Kendall Gill, 1990
Dave Scholz, 1969
Bill Ridley, 1956
Red Kerr, 1954
Jim Bredar, 1953
