Illinois’ Wagler, California Baptist’s Daniels Jr. are Oscar Robertson Trophy Players of the Month

Illinois’ Wagler, California Baptist’s Daniels Jr. are Oscar Robertson Trophy Players of the Month

 

INDIANAPOLIS (USBWA) – The U.S. Basketball Writers Association is continuing a new in-season feature: spotlighting two standout players who shined over the course of the previous month. This is the Oscar Robertson Player of the Month honor, with one going to a high-major player and one for a star at the mid-major level.

A fabulous January brought on a slew of outstanding games and individual performances across men’s college basketball. As a result, the January voting for our High-Major and Mid-Major Players of the Month was extremely close. Our winners hail from Illinois and California Baptist, both of them guards who played for teams that went a combined 15-2.

The monthly awards are voted on by the USBWA’s 11-person executive board.

High-Major Player of the Month: Keaton Wagler, Illinois

The Illinois freshman has become a revelation. Despite being ranked 150th by 247Sports in the class of 2025, Wagler has vaulted himself to lottery-pick status after a white-hot January, punctuated by his 46-point performance in Illinois’ 88-82 win at Purdue on Jan. 24. That performance was arguably the best of any player this season and reinforced the Fighting Illini’s credibility as a national title contender. Wagler set a program record by making nine of his 11 3-point attempts in that game.

For the month, Wagler averaged 21.5 points, 4.8 assists and 4.5 rebounds for an Illini team that went 8-0 and won by an average of 11.9 points. Wagler’s duties were increased after starting guard Kylan Boswell was injured halfway through the month.

On the season, Wagler, who hails from Shawnee, Kansas, is averaging 18.1 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.2 assists. He and Duke’s Carlos Boozer are the only freshmen averaging at least 18 points, five rebounds and four assists this season. Wagler’s shooting 43.8 percent from 3-point range, making him one of the best launchers beyond-the-arc in college hoops. Wagler transitioned to Illinois’ starting point guard and is pacing to set Illinois’ freshman scoring record, currently held by Kiwane Garris (15.9 in 1993-94). Wagler’s 140.7 offensive rating at KenPom is No. 8 nationally and paces Illinois, the No. 1-ranked offense in college hoops.

Mid-Major Player of the Month: Dominique Daniels Jr., California Baptist

The senior from Compton, Calif., is California Baptist’s all-time leading scorer at the Division I level, and now 108 points away from eclipsing 3,000 for his career (junior college and D-I combined). In January, Daniels guided the Lancers to a 6-2 record while averaging 25.1 points and 3.0 assists. Daniels’ 47-point outburst in CBU’s 78-71 overtime win against Utah Valley on Jan. 24 also included six assists and three steals. He set the CBU single-game scoring record that night, breaking a record that stood since 1971. Daniels is one of just four players this season to score at least 47 points in a game.

Daniels’ season average rose to 22.2, which is eighth nationally. He’s also good for 4.0 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game while being listed at 5-foot-10. Daniels has scored at least 20 points in 14 of the Lancers’ 21 games this season.

“Beyond the stat sheet, Dom continues to distinguish himself as a great teammate who constantly uplifts and encourages those around him, whether in practice or during big moments in big games,” CBU coach Rick Croy told the USBWA. “His leadership and selflessness helped set the tone for the group and strengthened the team’s chemistry throughout January. In every setting, Dom has proved to be as good an ambassador for CBU as there could be. We are all incredibly proud of him and can’t think of a more deserving person.”

California Baptist is 16-6 overall and 6-3 in the WAC. The Lancers have been in Division I since 2018. As of this publishing, the school is ranked 118th at KenPom, pacing to set the school record for best season since it joined Division I.

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Since the 1958-59 season, the USBWA has named a National Player of the Year. In 1998, the award was named in honor of the University of Cincinnati Hall of Famer and two-time USBWA Player of the Year Oscar Robertson. It is the nation’s oldest award and the only one named after a former player.

At the conclusion of the regular season, the USBWA will name finalists for the award, which is voted on by the entire membership. The winner of the award will be announced at the 2026 Men’s Final Four in Indianapolis, with the formal presentation to follow at the annual USBWA Awards Luncheon hosted by the Missouri Athletic Club in St. Louis.

The U.S. Basketball Writers Association was formed in 1956 at the urging of then-NCAA Executive Director Walter Byers. With some 800 members worldwide, it is one of the most influential organizations in college basketball. It has selected an All-America team since the 1956-57 season. For more information on the USBWA and the Oscar Robertson Trophy, contact executive director Malcolm Moran at 814-574-1485.

2025-26 USBWA Men’s Monthly Honors
• November: Cameron Boozer, Duke (HIgh-Major); Delrecco Gillespie, Kent State (Mid-Major).
• December: AJ Dybantsa, BYU (HIgh-Major); Cruz Davis, Hofstra (Mid-Major).
• January: Keaton Wagler, Illinois (HIgh-Major); Dominique Daniels Jr., California Baptist (Mid-Major).