Note #003: Keaton Wagler (Freshmen Guard Surge)
Former Illinois guard Keaton Wagler has declared for the 2026 NBA Draft. As a freshman in 2025-26, Wagler averaged 17.9 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 4.2 APG.
Below is the complete list of NCAA Division I men, since 1980-81, that averaged at least 17 PPG, 5 RPG, 4 APG in their freshman season:
Sorted by season
Cameron Boozer (2025-26) - 22.5 PPG, 10.2 RPG, 4.1 APG
Keaton Wagler (2025-26) - 17.9 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 4.2 APG
Cooper Flagg (2024-25) - 19.2 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 4.2 APG
Cole Anthony (2019-20) - 18.5 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 4.0 APG
R.J. Barrett (2018-19) - 22.6 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 4.3 APG
Markelle Fultz (2016-17) - 23.2 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 5.9 APG
Ben Simmons (2015-16) - 19.2 PPG, 11.8 RPG, 4.8 APG
D'Angelo Russell (2014-15) - 19.3 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 5.0 APG
Chauncey Billups (1995-96) - 17.9 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 5.5 APG
Kenny Anderson (1989-90) - 20.6 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 8.1 APG
Eight of ten of these seasons have occurred in the last 11 years.
Amazingly, three other freshmen in 2025-26 also made the shortlist of 13!
Sorted by 3PM (ascending)
Stefan Vaaks - 15.8 PPG, 3.2 APG, 2.5 RPG, 91 3PM (35.0 3PT%)
Darius Acuff, Jr. - 23.5 PPG, 6.4 APG, 3.1 RPG, 91 3PM (44.0 3PT%)
Preston Edmead - 16.1 PPG, 4.4 APG, 3.5 RPG, 96 3PM (38.7 3PT%)
Vaaks, who played his freshman year at Providence, went portaling after one season and committed to Wagler's Illini for 2026-27.
The remaining nine players to fit the above criteria are:
85-90 3PM
1. Brandon Knight (2010-11) - 17.3 PPG, 4.2 APG, 4.0 RPG, 87 3 PM (37.7 3PT%)
2. Stephon Marbury (1995-96) - 18.9 PPG, 4.5 APG, 3.1 RPG, 88 3PM (37.0 3PT%)
3. O.J. Mayo (2007-08) - 20.7 PPG, 3.3 APG, 4.5 RPG, 88 3PM
(40.9 3PT%)
90-100 3PM
4. D'Angelo Russell (2014-15) - 19.3 PPG, 5.0 APG, 5.7 RPG, 95 3PM (41.1% 3PT%)
5. Dennis Scott (1987-88) - 15.5 PPG, 3.6 APG, 5.0 RPG, 98 3PM (47.1 3PT%)
100+ 3PM
6. R.J. Cole (2017-18) - 23.7 PPG, 6.1 APG, 3.9 RPG, 109 3PM
(35.9 3PT%)
7. Keydren Clark (2002-03) - 24.9 PPG, 4.2 APG, 3.3 RPG, 109 3PM (39.2 3PT%)
8. Trae Young (2017-18) - 27.4 PPG, 8.7 APG, 3.9 RPG, 118 3PM (36.0 3PT%)
9. Antoine Davis (2018-19) - 26.1 PPG, 3.6 APG, 3.1 RPG, 132 3PM (38.0 3PT%)
Statistics via Sports Reference
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