CHAMPAIGN, IL (Chambana Today) — U of I men’s basketball freshman guard Keaton Wagler has been named a second-team All-American by The Sporting News. The selection was made by a blue-ribbon panel of college basketball journalists and analysts, The Sporting News is one of four All-America selectors comprising the official NCAA consensus team.
In his freshman season, Wagler has achieved the following:
- First-Team All-Big Ten
- Big Ten Freshman of the Year
- West 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
- Leads the nation in offensive rating among players with at least 24% possessions used at 132.4
- Sixth in the kenpom national player of the year standings
- Shattered Illinois freshman season scoring record, currently with 554 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
- Fifth in the Big Ten in scoring during conference play, averaging 19.9 points
- Scored in double figures in each of the last 23 games, and 28 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)