Illinois basketball: The Best freshmen seasons in program history

Keaton Wagler is having one of the best freshman seasons we have seen in Illinois basketball history. Wagler was just the No. 150 recruit in the class of 2025 on 247Sports, but he has quickly emerged as the favorite to win Big Ten Freshman of the Year.

The Kansas native has been the Illini’s best player over the past month and has begun to catch the eye of NBA scouts. He is now projected as a first-round pick and has a chance to become the best freshman in Illinois basketball history.

I have ranked the greatest freshmen in Illinois basketball history below:

#1 Cory Bradford (1998–99)

Bradford averaged 15.4 points per game and shot over 40% from three-point range for an Illinois team that made the Elite Eight. The Illini finished the season with a 24–10 overall record and went 10–6 in league play. Bradford was named Big Ten Co-Freshman of the Year and earned a spot on the conference All-Freshman Team.

#2 Kasparas Jakucionis (2024–25)

Kasparas Jakucionis played just one season with Illinois basketball before going in the first round of the NBA Draft. He averaged 15.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game in his first season in the United States. The Lithuanian-born guard was named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team and the All-Big Ten Second Team. Illinois finished 22–10 overall and lost to Kentucky in the Round of 32 of the NCAA Tournament.

#3 Deon Thomas (1990–91)

Deon Thomas had an outstanding freshman season in 1990–91. Thomas eventually became one of the best players in Illinois basketball history. As a freshman, Thomas averaged 15.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks per game. Deon was named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team as he helped Illinois finish with an impressive 12–6 conference record. The Illini went 21–10 overall but were unable to make the NCAA Tournament due to recruiting violations.

#4 Kiwane Garris (1993–94)

Kiwane Garris played alongside Illinois basketball legend Deon Thomas and still put together one of the best freshman seasons in school history. Garris averaged 15.9 points and 3.8 assists per game during his rookie campaign. Illinois finished 21–10 overall and tied for second in the league before losing in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament.

#5 Kofi Cockburn (2019–20)

Kofi Cockburn helped spark the resurgence of the Illinois program with his dominant presence during the 2019–20 season. Illinois was on track to return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in years before the season was canceled by the COVID pandemic. The Illini finished the regular season 21–10 and were projected as a single-digit seed. Cockburn was named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team after he averaged 12.4 points and 8.8 rebounds as a freshman 

#6 Will Riley (2024–25)
Will Riley was not the most statistically dominant freshman on his team, but he still joined Kasparas Jakucionis as a one-and-done first-round draft pick following last season. Riley had an up-and-down freshman campaign. However, he ultimately won Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year and earned a spot on the Big Ten All-Freshman Team. Riley averaged 12.6 points and 4.1 rebounds per game. He was a huge factor in helping Illinois to a 21–10 record before a Round of 32 exit in the NCAA Tournament.

Honorable Mention: Efrem Winters (1982–83) & Trent Frazier (2017–18)

Keaton Wagler has firmly put himself in this conversation, and people will likely remember him as one of the best freshmen to ever wear the orange and blue. Wagler is currently averaging 15.7 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game through 12 games. Another NBA player developed by Brad Underwood and his staff appears to be on the horizon.

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