- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,195,499
- Reaction score
- 59
Jun. 26—Keaton Wagler wore No. 3 during his run at Shawnee Mission Northwest (Kan.) that led to two state championships for the Cougars after wearing both No. 3 and No. 10 during his time with Victor Williams Basketball Academy on the AAU circuit.
The No. 3 was taken when Wagler arrived in Champaign. Ben Humrichous had dibs as a returning sixth-year player. So Wagler wore No. 23 throughout his one-and-done season with the Illini, and that's the jersey that will soon grace the State Farm Center rafters following one of the best single seasons in program history.
Wagler has to pivot again on the number front, though, to start his NBA career.
Isaiah Jackson wears No. 23 for the Los Angeles Clippers. That means Wagler, the No. 5 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, had to choose something else for his rookie season.
"I've never worn No. 1," Wagler told reporters during his introductory press conference Wednesday at the Intuit Dome. "I saw the jersey numbers I could pick from, and I thought '1" would be the best kind of just for something new. First time in the NBA, No. 1, I think it goes well."
Los Angeles certainly felt Wagler fit well both with its current and future plans.
President of basketball operations Lawrence Frank was clear about what the Clippers were looking for heading into the draft. Positional size mattered. So did an all-around skill set — the pass, dribble, shoot cliché.
But the actual basketball piece was only part of the requirements.
"Before we even get to the skill on the court, we want to make sure we draft someone who is obsessed with winning above all else," Frank said. "Someone who is extremely hungry and driven to improve. Someone who embodies the work ethic, the resilience, the dedication of everybody who works with the Clippers.
"(Wagler) just has the great inner belief. When you watch him play, he's stays (level). He's unflappable. He has great poise. Never gets too high or too low. The thing that impresses us most about Keaton is it's about one thing. it's about winning, and that's all he cares about."
Wagler liked the fit with the Clippers, too. He got a sense for that during the NBA draft combine in Chicago in May when he met with members of the organization, and those feelings were reinforced when he spent three days in Los Angeles for a more thorough meeting and workout ahead of the draft.
The Clippers have a mix of young players and successful veterans. Wagler, 19, will be the youngest, but Los Angeles' young core also includes former Rolling Meadows standout and N-G All-State First Team selection Cameron Christie (21), former Arizona star Bennedict Mathurin (23) and former Penn State big man and surprise 2025 first-round pick Yanic Konan Niederhauser (23).
There's also Jackson (25) and point guard Darius Garland (27) as a bridge, age and experience wise, to players like 32-year-old point guard Kris Dunn and 35-year-old, seven-time all-star Kawhi Leonard.
"They have some young players and then some veterans that I can learn from," Wagler said. "I feel like I'll fit in really well here, and this was a place I wanted to be. ... I'm definitely going to ask a lot of questions. I want to talk to them a lot just to learn what they went through and how they go about their days. I just think it will be really good for me to be around experienced players like that and to get to learn from them."
What Wagler won't have to learn — but might have to fine tune at the NBA level — is how he operates with the ball in his hands. The 6-foot-6, 188-pound guard was able to play through contact in the paint for Illinois after putting on 20 pounds following his arrival in Champaign.
Under-the-radar physicality, though, wasn't the only reason.
"I think just staying under control and not getting sped up is something I do really well and not panicking when I get to the paint and see multiple defenders," Wagler said. "For me, it's always been making the right play. When I get down to the paint and read the defense and it's a lot of people helping, it's getting the ball out of my hands and not trying to make a hero play or shooting a tough shot. Playing how I always play by making the right play and doing whatever I can do to help the team win."
Music to Frank's ears.
Los Angeles' pre-draft scouting process of Wagler — and every other guard they looked at as a potential No. 5 pick — was watching every single pass they made. The Clippers saw Wagler make the right play habitually. His problem solving during the course of games, including several strong second halves after slow starts, also stood out during the organization's evaluations.
"What's really, really unique about him is, how's a guy who's not 'athletic' get to all the spots on the floor?" Frank said. "How's he find a way to punish every mistake a defense makes? That's the craft, the guile. He's got incredible body balance. These are lessons you learn in scouting.
"He'll contribute now, but I think he obviously has to get stronger. He's going to continue to put a ton of work in. There's a lot of growth to be made in his two-point game inside the paint, on his finishing. Defensively, he gives great effort, but his strength will really help him. He can both create advantages and maintain advantages with greater strength."
Continue reading...
The No. 3 was taken when Wagler arrived in Champaign. Ben Humrichous had dibs as a returning sixth-year player. So Wagler wore No. 23 throughout his one-and-done season with the Illini, and that's the jersey that will soon grace the State Farm Center rafters following one of the best single seasons in program history.
Wagler has to pivot again on the number front, though, to start his NBA career.
Isaiah Jackson wears No. 23 for the Los Angeles Clippers. That means Wagler, the No. 5 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, had to choose something else for his rookie season.
"I've never worn No. 1," Wagler told reporters during his introductory press conference Wednesday at the Intuit Dome. "I saw the jersey numbers I could pick from, and I thought '1" would be the best kind of just for something new. First time in the NBA, No. 1, I think it goes well."
Los Angeles certainly felt Wagler fit well both with its current and future plans.
President of basketball operations Lawrence Frank was clear about what the Clippers were looking for heading into the draft. Positional size mattered. So did an all-around skill set — the pass, dribble, shoot cliché.
But the actual basketball piece was only part of the requirements.
"Before we even get to the skill on the court, we want to make sure we draft someone who is obsessed with winning above all else," Frank said. "Someone who is extremely hungry and driven to improve. Someone who embodies the work ethic, the resilience, the dedication of everybody who works with the Clippers.
"(Wagler) just has the great inner belief. When you watch him play, he's stays (level). He's unflappable. He has great poise. Never gets too high or too low. The thing that impresses us most about Keaton is it's about one thing. it's about winning, and that's all he cares about."
Wagler liked the fit with the Clippers, too. He got a sense for that during the NBA draft combine in Chicago in May when he met with members of the organization, and those feelings were reinforced when he spent three days in Los Angeles for a more thorough meeting and workout ahead of the draft.
The Clippers have a mix of young players and successful veterans. Wagler, 19, will be the youngest, but Los Angeles' young core also includes former Rolling Meadows standout and N-G All-State First Team selection Cameron Christie (21), former Arizona star Bennedict Mathurin (23) and former Penn State big man and surprise 2025 first-round pick Yanic Konan Niederhauser (23).
There's also Jackson (25) and point guard Darius Garland (27) as a bridge, age and experience wise, to players like 32-year-old point guard Kris Dunn and 35-year-old, seven-time all-star Kawhi Leonard.
"They have some young players and then some veterans that I can learn from," Wagler said. "I feel like I'll fit in really well here, and this was a place I wanted to be. ... I'm definitely going to ask a lot of questions. I want to talk to them a lot just to learn what they went through and how they go about their days. I just think it will be really good for me to be around experienced players like that and to get to learn from them."
What Wagler won't have to learn — but might have to fine tune at the NBA level — is how he operates with the ball in his hands. The 6-foot-6, 188-pound guard was able to play through contact in the paint for Illinois after putting on 20 pounds following his arrival in Champaign.
Under-the-radar physicality, though, wasn't the only reason.
"I think just staying under control and not getting sped up is something I do really well and not panicking when I get to the paint and see multiple defenders," Wagler said. "For me, it's always been making the right play. When I get down to the paint and read the defense and it's a lot of people helping, it's getting the ball out of my hands and not trying to make a hero play or shooting a tough shot. Playing how I always play by making the right play and doing whatever I can do to help the team win."
Music to Frank's ears.
Los Angeles' pre-draft scouting process of Wagler — and every other guard they looked at as a potential No. 5 pick — was watching every single pass they made. The Clippers saw Wagler make the right play habitually. His problem solving during the course of games, including several strong second halves after slow starts, also stood out during the organization's evaluations.
"What's really, really unique about him is, how's a guy who's not 'athletic' get to all the spots on the floor?" Frank said. "How's he find a way to punish every mistake a defense makes? That's the craft, the guile. He's got incredible body balance. These are lessons you learn in scouting.
"He'll contribute now, but I think he obviously has to get stronger. He's going to continue to put a ton of work in. There's a lot of growth to be made in his two-point game inside the paint, on his finishing. Defensively, he gives great effort, but his strength will really help him. He can both create advantages and maintain advantages with greater strength."
Continue reading...
