Illinois Linked to High-Scoring Transfer Guard Alex Wilkins

The Illini have shown interest in Furman guard Alex Wilkins, who may be a candidate to take over at lead guard in Champaign.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 8:24am

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting the fluid motion and athleticism of a basketball player, with their form broken down into overlapping planes of color and shape.A cubist interpretation of a high-scoring guard's impact on the court, capturing the dynamic energy and movement of the game.Philadelphia Today

The Illinois Illini have shown interest in Furman guard Alex Wilkins, who is entering the transfer portal. Wilkins, a 6-foot-5 guard, averaged 17.8 points and 4.7 assists per game as a freshman, helping lead Furman to the NCAA Tournament. His game has been compared to outgoing Illinois guard Keaton Wagler, and the Illini may see him as a potential replacement at the lead guard position.

Why it matters

The Illini are looking to fill a key vacancy at point guard with Wagler's departure, and Wilkins could be an ideal fit given his scoring ability, playmaking skills, and physical tools. His potential addition would be a significant boost for an Illinois team looking to build on its recent success.

The details

Wilkins, an unranked recruit out of high school, made an immediate impact at Furman, averaging 17.8 points and 4.7 assists per game as a freshman. He helped lead the Paladins to the NCAA Tournament, where he nearly led an upset of eventual national runner-up UConn, scoring 21 points and dishing out 4 assists. Wilkins' game has been compared to Wagler's, with a similar jump shot and pick-and-roll prowess. However, he will need to improve his decision-making and cut down on turnovers (3.8 per game) to thrive at the high-major level.

  • Wilkins entered the transfer portal on April 7, 2026, the first day of the transfer window.
  • Furman's season ended on March 20, 2026, with the loss to UConn in the NCAA Tournament.

The players

Alex Wilkins

A 6-foot-5 guard who averaged 17.8 points and 4.7 assists per game as a freshman at Furman, helping lead the Paladins to the NCAA Tournament. Wilkins is now entering the transfer portal and has drawn interest from Illinois and several other high-major programs.

Keaton Wagler

The outgoing Illinois guard whose departure has created a vacancy at the lead guard position that Wilkins could potentially fill.

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What they’re saying

“Alex Wilkins is on 🔥🔥”

— Furman Basketball

“Alex Wilkins grabs the layup and goes coast to coast!”

— Furman Basketball

What’s next

Illinois will continue to evaluate Wilkins and other transfer options as they look to fill the lead guard role for the upcoming season.

The takeaway

Wilkins' potential addition would be a significant boost for an Illinois team looking to build on its recent success, as his scoring ability, playmaking skills, and physical tools could make him an ideal fit to replace the outgoing Wagler at the lead guard position.