NABC Release
CHAMPAIGN, Ill.– Illini freshman guard Keaton Wagler has been named a second-team All-American by the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC). This is the third of four organizations that counts toward NCAA consensus honors to place Wagler on its All-America Second Team, joining The Sporting News and Associated Press. Wagler is the first freshman in Illinois history to be named an All-American by the NABC.
Wagler Season Highlights
• First-Team All-American by Bleacher Report
• Second-Team All-American by The Sporting News, Associated Press, NABC, and Field of 68
• Wooden Award National Ballot
• 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
• 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 NABC All-America Team
First Team
Darius Acuff Jr., Arkansas
Cameron Boozer, Duke
AJ Dybantsa, BYU
Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan
Braden Smith, Purdue
Second Team
Kingston Flemings, Houston
Thomas Haugh, Florida
Joshua Jefferson, Iowa State
JT Toppin, Texas Tech
Keaton Wagler, Illinois
Third Team
Jaden Bradley, Arizona
Jeremy Fears Jr., Michigan State
Graham Ike, Gonzaga
Labaron Philon Jr., Alabama
Caleb Wilson, North Carolina
Illinois All-Time NABC All-Americans
First Team
Kofi Cockburn, 2022
Ayo Dosunmu, 2021
Bill Erickson, 1949
Andy Phillip, 1947
Second Team
Keaton Wagler, 2026
Kofi Cockburn, 2021
Dee Brown, 2006
Dee Brown, 2005
Luther Head, 2005
Deron Williams, 2005
Frank Williams, 2001
George BonSalle, 1957
Rod Fletcher, 1952
Third Team
Brian Cook, 2003
Kendall Gill, 1990
Ken Norman, 1987
Skip Thoren, 1965
Paul Judson, 1956
Bill Bidley, 1956
