Keaton Wagler leads deep group of talented freshmen still putting their imprint on March Madness

Illinois guard Keaton Wagler emerges as one of the top newcomers in the 2023 NCAA Tournament

Apr. 3, 2026 at 2:54pm

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A fractured, cubist-style painting depicting the chaos and energy of a college basketball game, with the players' forms broken down into overlapping geometric shapes and planes of vibrant color.The NCAA Tournament's talented freshman class has left its mark on March Madness, with newcomers like Keaton Wagler and Braylon Mullins leading their teams to the Final Four.Greenfield Today

Keaton Wagler, a four-star recruit from Kansas, has emerged as a standout freshman for Illinois in the 2023 NCAA Tournament. Despite lacking the hype of some other top freshmen, Wagler has led the Fighting Illini to the Final Four, averaging 17.9 points per game and hitting 85 3-pointers. Other key freshmen still playing in the tournament include UConn's Braylon Mullins, Arizona's Brayden Burries and Koa Peat, and Michigan's Trey McKenney.

Why it matters

The success of these talented freshmen in the 2023 NCAA Tournament highlights the increasing impact young players are having on the sport. While some highly touted recruits have fallen short, these newcomers have seized the spotlight and proven they can lead their teams deep into March Madness, showcasing the next generation of college basketball stars.

The details

Keaton Wagler, a 6-foot-6 guard from Kansas, has been a key contributor for Illinois this season. Despite not generating the same buzz as some other top freshmen, Wagler has averaged 17.9 points per game and hit 85 3-pointers, leading the Fighting Illini to the Final Four. Other freshmen still playing in the tournament include UConn's Braylon Mullins, who hit a game-winning 35-foot shot to send the Huskies to the Final Four, and Arizona's Brayden Burries and Koa Peat, the top two scorers for the Wildcats. Michigan's Trey McKenney has also made an impact for the Wolverines, averaging 9.8 points per game since mid-January.

  • Wagler helped Shawnee Mission Northwest High School in Kansas win its first two state titles, one coming with a perfect season, in 2024 and 2025.
  • Wagler was named the Kansas Class 6A state player of the year in 2024 and 2025, and was the state's 2025 Gatorade Player of the Year.
  • Wagler's 46-point scoring performance at Purdue in late January was a key moment in his breakout season.

The players

Keaton Wagler

A 6-foot-6 guard from Shawnee Mission Northwest High School in Kansas, Wagler is a four-star recruit who has emerged as a standout freshman for Illinois, leading the team in scoring at 17.9 points per game and hitting 85 3-pointers.

Braylon Mullins

A freshman guard for UConn, Mullins hit a game-winning 35-foot 3-pointer with 0.4 seconds left to send the Huskies to the Final Four.

Brayden Burries

A freshman forward for Arizona, Burries is one of the top two scorers for the Wildcats, who spent much of the season ranked No. 1 and were unbeaten until early February.

Koa Peat

A freshman forward for Arizona, Peat is the other half of the Wildcats' dynamic freshman duo, along with Brayden Burries.

Trey McKenney

A freshman forward for Michigan, McKenney has averaged 9.8 points per game since mid-January and has already announced he will return to the Wolverines next season.

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What they’re saying

“It's definitely crazy. Playing for a state championship (last year), like I thought that'd be like the biggest thing I'd ever play in. But getting to a Final Four is definitely a lot bigger.”

— Keaton Wagler

“That was the message coach (Dan Hurley) really wanted to get across — it was like the goal is Indy. Everywhere we walked, it was like you saw Indianapolis. I think that was the whole message, the whole goal and we accomplished it. Now we've got to win it.”

— Braylon Mullins, UConn freshman guard

“They recruited a lot of winners, and then they already have winners on this team. So winning is a big part of our culture, and if you can find ways to win a basketball game, whether that's scoring, defending, rebounding or just being a great teammate, you can go a long way.”

— Brayden Burries, Arizona freshman forward

“I think I've definitely gotten better throughout the season. But I think my willingness to learn from my mistakes, stuff that I've done wrong, I think I've done a really good job of just getting back at it, getting better throughout the season.”

— Trey McKenney, Michigan freshman forward

What’s next

The Final Four matchups are set, with Illinois facing UConn and Michigan taking on Arizona. The winners will advance to the national championship game on Monday, April 7th.

The takeaway

The success of these talented freshmen in the 2023 NCAA Tournament highlights the increasing impact young players are having on college basketball. While some highly touted recruits have fallen short, these newcomers have seized the spotlight and proven they can lead their teams deep into March Madness, showcasing the next generation of stars in the sport.