Keaton Wagler has led the 11th-seeded University of Illinois to the Final Four in the NCAA Tournament. His size at the point guard position would make him a seamless fit with Keyonte George in the backcourt for the Utah Jazz. If Utah doesn't move up into the top three, Wagler is definitely someone who should be on Jazz fans' radar.
That's not to say he wouldn't have some concerns. The knock on Wagler is his lack of explosiveness. This is despite his six-foot-six frame that has allowed him to go anywhere he wants on the floor. The concern is whether he will continue to do that with players being larger, stronger, and more athletic at the NBA level.
The other concern is on the defensive end; despite his size, that side of the court is not his strength. Again, his lack of athleticism poses concerns about whether he can keep guys in front of him in the pros.
His upside & fit would be perfect on paper for the Jazz
The positives start again with his size. His height at the point guard spot would immediately allow him to see and do things other smaller guards wouldn't. He is an amazing shooter (40.7% from three-point range and 57% from two-point range) and a compelling passer, with 4.3 assists per game.
He can also control the pace of the game, a fact that has been evident in this unexpected NCAA tournament run.
His fit with Jazz would be very interesting. For a team that needs ball handling and creation, Wagler would help with that right out of the gate. He also would bring size to the backcourt, and pairing him with Keyonte George (six-foot-four) and Ace Bailey (six-foot-nine) would make a very lengthy guard front both in the starting lineup and off the bench.
His background is also intriguing. He wasn't highly recruited heading into his freshman season at Illinois, and until his breakout game, where he poured in 46 points against Purdue, he was a relative unknown. He was ranked 261st in his class and is now the best player on a Final Four team and projected to go top 10 in what has been hailed as a loaded draft class this coming June.
Experts didn't expect Wagler to be here, but you can't deny his ability to lead a team. He has been underrated in high school and again in college, but a betting man would conclude he won't continue to fly under the radar heading into the draft night with the way he is playing in March.
Utah will surely have their eye on him, and depending on how the ping pong balls are drawn, he may be the right pick for this Jazz team.