After experiences at Arizona and Illinois, Kylan Boswell says he can play role in NBA

By then, Kylan Boswell knew better.

Once perceived on a fast track to the NBA himself, after skipping his senior high school season to join Arizona as a 17-year-old freshman in 2022-23, Boswell said he knew Wagler would soon be in the NBA.

Boswell had already played with two guys at Arizona who developed into unexpected NBA players, Pelle Larsson and Keyshad Johnson, then transferred to Illinois just as one-and-done guard Kasparas Jakucionis joined him in the Illinois backcourt in 2024-25.

From Illinois, Boswell also watched another former UA teammate, guard Caleb Love, go undrafted last spring yet still make a splash with the Portland Trail Blazers via a two-way contract.

From all that experience, Boswell learned what it takes.

“I knew what Keaton was going to be when I first met him and played with him,” Boswell said. “But I also played with and watched Caleb. I thought it was crazy that he went undrafted, and when he got to Portland, he's dominating. Also, Pelle and Key are doing whatever they can on the Heat and making their impacts.

“Just being on these teams and playing with these guys, I've seen the aspects going down with Keaton, who is gonna be a top five pick. I've understood it already, and I think that's huge for just players coming in, that everybody's path is gonna be different.”

Boswell’s path has been particularly unique. After playing two seasons for the Wildcats, starting over Jaden Bradley in 2023-24 but facing scrutiny for off-campus issues that season, Boswell transferred to Illinois in the spring of 2024.

There, he met fellow guards Jakucionis and Wagler, who were on their own unique journeys. Jakucionis arrived in 2024, then became a first-round pick after one season as expected, while Wagler then rose out of nowhere to become a projected lottery pick this spring.

Boswell, meanwhile, went from a projected draft pick in 2024 to a guy who had to fight it out last month at the Portsmouth Invitational, a seniors-only predraft camp in which only a select few wind up getting called up to the NBA Combine.

“There's a lot of trying to get yours, trying to get the invite to the Combine,” Boswell said of Portsmouth. “But for me, it was just continue trying to play the right way, playing as hard as I can, trying to guard the best way that possibly can.”

Boswell excelled in Portsmouth, scoring 20 points in his first game and finishing up with 11 points and 13 assists in another. He received an NBA Combine invite, then averaged 5.5 points and 3.0 rebounds in two combine scrimmages while hitting a combined 4 for 12 shots.

While Boswell didn't stand out in NBA Combine shooting drills — and fretted during his media interview about finding a 3-point shot that has dipped notably (30.7% in 2025-26) since his years at Arizona — he spent the week selling himself as a willing NBA-ready role player who can excel defensively.

“Selflessness, I feel like that's been just kind of my character in the last two years,” Boswell said. “Every team has a superstar, a team, a guy that's a scorer for them, and (the experience at Illinois) just shows I can operate within a system and make the right plays for my teammates.”

Boswell says he’s grown into a much different player and person than he was when he committed to Arizona and played two seasons for the Wildcats.

“One hundred percent,” Boswell said. “From 16-year-old Kylan to 21-year-old Kylan is two different human beings. My journey at Arizona, there was a lot of downs and trying to get back up. Mentally, I needed clarity to be myself and going to Illinois is the best decision I made to help me get back on the right path and mature.”

On the court, Boswell says he’s more well-rounded, too. He primarily played point guard at Arizona, but has been mostly off the ball at Illinois while playing with Jakucionis and Wagler.

“I’ve played in any type of circumstance,” Boswell said. “At Arizona, the ball was in my hands, primarily being a transition guard, being in pick-and-roll situations, learning coach (Tommy) Lloyd's philosophies, and then coming here (to Illinois), was like a 180, being off the ball, setting pick and rolls.

“I think it's been huge for my growth.”

Coincidentally, Boswell finished his college career last month in the Final Four, where Illinois joined UConn, Michigan ... and Arizona. Both Illinois and Arizona lost their semifinal games, and Boswell said it was a bittersweet experience to end his long college journey with.

But mostly sweet, he indicated.

“Coming in as a 16-year-old freshman at Arizona and leaving Illinois… I've appreciated everything, and this past year, really embraced the journey, the struggles and the good everything that came with this last season,” Boswell said.

“This past season was the most fun I've had playing basketball ever, with the group of guys the staff that we had. It just means everything to me and being able to end my career on that note, that's a blessing I will always cherish.”