CHAMPAIGN -- Keaton Wagler intends to wrap up his recruitment this week. His official visits are made. The only item left is a commitment.
It will be the conclusion of a process that really only picked up steam this summer. The 6-foot-6, 180-pound guard was able to parlay an undefeated state championship season at Shawnee Mission Northwest (Kan.) into a solid run on the independent AAU circuit with Victor Williams Basketball Academy and a run of Division I offers.
Illinois wasn't first in that process. Kansas City jumped on board in the midst of that 25-0 run with Shawnee Mission Northwest, and nearly a dozen more mid-major programs offered in July.
The Illini offered 31/2 weeks ago at the same time as Minnesota. Those offers came sandwiched between Wagler's official visits at Murray State and Southern Illinois.
He also visited Colorado State at the end of August and spent the first weekend in September at Minnesota.
This past weekend's visit to Champaign was Wagler's last. Now the (brief) wait is on for his commitment decision, which he intends to make this week.
Illinois wound up with the last word in its late push for the now four-star Class of 2025 recruit. Wagler debuted in 247Sports' updated rankings ahead of his visit, checking in at No. 150 overall and as the No. 1 player in Kansas.
"They like my versatility being able to play multiple positions," Wagler said about his conversations with the Illinois staff.
He was primarily recruited by assistant coach Tyler Underwood and said he also established a strong early connection with Illini director of scouting and recruiting Kwa Jones.
"Brad Underwood, he always talks about players being positionless, and that's how he feels about me," Wagler continued. "He sees I can shoot the ball really well, but also I make great plays with the ball in my hands, too."
Wagler averaged 12.5 points, six rebounds and 3.5 assists for Shawnee Mission Northwest in its run to the KHSSAA Class 6A state title in March -- a first for the program. He shot 52 percent overall and knocked down 50 percent of his three-point attempts while boasting a 3.1-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio.
That's a lot of boxes checked for Illinois, including two that were a priority for Brad Underwood in building his current roster. Positional size and shooting were the two traits stressed this offseason. Wagler has both.
"He lets you play free, but he's also going to push you hard," Wagler said of Brad Underwood. "I'm used to it. I've got two great coaches that push me hard all the time. I think I'll be a great fit here.
"I feel like I fit their play style. They play fast. They play with space. I think I do that well."
Fit is at the top of Wagler's decision-making process when it comes to his commitment.
Both in how he fits in whatever system he lands in and in the relationship he's been able to establish with the coaching staffs pursuing him the hardest. The chance to make an early impact is also a factor.
Wagler opting for a commitment this week will free him up to play out his senior season at Shawnee Mission Northwest without the added complication of managing his recruitment. Expectations are high for the reigning state champions in the southwest Kansas City, Kan., suburb with all five starters returning.
"We're probably more than likely going to be preseason ranked No. 1," Wagler said. "We didn't lose a single game last year. That's the standard this year."
Running it back will likely more often than not run through Wagler. Named a team captain as a sophomore a year before the state title run, the now four-star guard has the highest profile of any of the Cougars and saw his game advance this summer to the point where he got a pair of Big Ten teams to pick up their pursuit.
"My defense has gotten a lot better," Wagler said. "I've been working on using my body around the rim better to finish well. I think my shooting has been really good and my playmaking."