ESPN and other outlets are reporting on a Keaton Wagler 40 point game for Illinois in a victory over Purdue. He was not the only freshman to have a 40-point outburst, though, as projected number one pick AJ Dybantsa from BYU had 43 points in a win over Utah, and Kingston Flemings from Houston dropped 42 on Texas Tech. Wagler did have the biggest scoring output with 46, and it was against the highest-ranked opponent (Purdue was ranked #4 in the country going into the game).
The youth movement is nothing new in NCAA basketball, with every school in the nation embracing the one-and-done culture a long time ago. With players jumping earlier and earlier into the NBA, and with the transfer pool allowing a free flow of talent every offseason, freshman basketball players have become the best players on most teams. Despite that fact, this is the first time in history that three freshmen have scored 40 or more points on the same day.
Who Is Keaton Wagler?
Wagler is a 6’6, 180-pound guard from Northwest High School in Shawnee, Kansas. He was a 4-star recruit according to ESPN, and unranked for his position and for his state. His career high at the prep level was 32 points in a game, and Illinois was the largest program that offered him a scholarship.
Wagler is currently averaging 17.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game this season, through 20 games. This was his fifth game of the season with 20 or more points, and he is currently the leading scorer for the 17-3 Fighting Illini.
Who Is Kingston Flemings?
Flemings is a 6’2 and 175-pound scoring point guard out of San Antonio, Texas. He was a four-star recruit, ranked 22nd in the nation, the best player in the state of Texas, and the sixth-best guard in the nation. He was heavily recruited by Alabama, Baylor, and LSU, but eventually committed to play for the Houston Cougars.
Like Wagler, Flemings is leading his team in scoring at 17.0 points per game. He is adding 3.3 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game. He has eight games this season with 20 points or more, is shooting 53% from the field, and 39.1% from three.
Who Is AJ Dybantsa?
Dybantsa is easily the highest-profile player of the three freshmen. He was the top-rated high school player in the country and chose BYU over powerhouse blue blood programs like Kentucky, North Carolina, Kansas, and Duke. He won a gold medal for Team USA in the U16 games, then helped America win it all while a member of the U17 and U19 squads as well.
The 6’9 forward is currently averaging 23.6 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 3.5 assists for BYU this season. He has 13 games this season with 20 points or more (3 with 30+ and 1 with 40+). He had a double-double against Pacific on December 16 (23 points and 10 rebounds), and two games later, he had a triple-double against Eastern Washington (33/10/10).
Final Thoughts On Keaton Wagler 40 Point Game (And Company)
Dtbantsa will be the top pick in the 2026 NBA Draft barring injury. Where will the other two players end up in the lottery, or will they return to college, since neither is as highly-touted as Dybantsa? The NCAA Tournament may be the deciding factor in all their decisions, but there is no denying that it has been a great year for NCAA freshmen.
