The NBA Draft Combine in Chicago this week has drawn nearly 80 aspiring professionals, all vying for just 60 guaranteed spots in the upcoming NBA draft.
Among the participants are Illinois alumni Andrej Stojakovic, Kylan Boswell and Keaton Wagler, each of whom helped the Illini reach the Final Four before turning their attention to the professional draft.
Keaton Wagler's Unexpected Rise
Wagler, once a lightly recruited high school prospect, has emerged as a potential top‑ten pick, crediting his rapid ascent to relentless work ethic, a supportive coaching staff and the camaraderie of his teammates.
Andrej Stojakovic now faces a pivotal decision, weighing the prospect of staying with a Final Four roster that returns most of its key contributors against the allure of entering the professional ranks, a choice he describes as both tough and exhilarating.
The combine also showcases other home‑grown talents such as Jeremy Fears Jr., a Joliet native, Northwestern star Nick Martinelli, and Thornton Township’s Morez Johnson Jr., each hoping to translate college success into NBA opportunity.
Johnson, who transferred from Illinois before capturing a national championship with Michigan, emphasizes his versatility, noting that his ability to operate at both the four and five positions could make him an attractive asset for NBA teams, and he dreams of returning to Chicago for this moment in his life.
For the Chicago Bulls, the draft holds the fourth and fifteenth selections, and analysts have begun to speculate that Caleb Wilson, Cam Boozer or Darryn Peterson could be the players they target with those picks.