He averaged 18.8 points and 4.9 assists on the Nike EYBL circuit with the NJ Scholars grassroots program last spring and summer, including nine 20-point efforts in 18 games. Wagner has many other connections to Kentucky too. I look up to him; we are very close. It could also be just a recruiting ploy, but either way, I'm filing this away in the category of "interesting and possibly noteworthy.". He went to USA Basketball with the mentality of winning a gold medal. If the Cats' class remains atop the ranking at the end of the recruiting cycle, it would mark the eighth time in the tenure of 14th-year Kentucky coach John Calipari that the program has finished with the No. 6-10 / "If you can play free-flowing, unpredictable basketball, and have some principles to it, you're going to keep the defense off-balance," Payne said earlier this year. The details of Wagner's deals with the company have not been disclosed. Your email address will not be published. DJ Wagner, the top college basketball recruit in the 2023 class, has strengthened his ties to the University of Kentucky's longtime apparel sponsor. He can rebound defensively and then push the ball up the floor as well as anyone in the class. He alsoattended Big Blue Madness in 2021andparticipated in a father-son summer campCalipari hosted at UK in 2018. Im too young to know much about the drama with Pervis, but, based on his interviews, the hiring of Kenny Payne seems to have eased his hurt. My father definitely helps me a lot because he's been through the whole process in high school, through college, and the NBA, he continued. 6-0 / San Francisco, California, United States. Also trending: Louisville basketball needs guards but whos available? 6-keys: media/spln/collegebasketball/reg/free/stories, at DJ Wagner is a 6-foot-2 combination guard out of Camden (N.J.) High that ranks as the No. All rights reserved. Josh Friedman has produced award-winning South Jersey sports coverage for the Courier Post, The Daily Journal and the Burlington County Times for more than a decade. That said, Bradshaw is a unique talent who, I believe, would really flourish under Kenny Payne and Danny Manning. Obituary . Call 1-800-GAMBLER. DJ Wagner dubbed one of the 20 most important CBB names over the next 20 years. So which school has the edge? Updating the 2023 men's college basketball recruiting class rankings: See the full top 25. Connections:John Calipari coached DJ's father, Dajuan Wagner, at Memphis during the 2001-2002 season. 210, SF / Right now I'm not really sure, I'm not focused on professional or things like that but when the time comes maybe I will consider that. As for other Kentucky targets in the 2023 class, Dajuan Wagner Jr. remains the No. Wagner was not the only player Syracuse basketball offered on Saturday. 6-7 / "The Adidas agreement and our corresponding university policy require our student athletes to wear Adidas gear during official team activities. He was hounded all weekend by double and triple teams and was, almost constantly, pushed, slapped, and grabbed. 6-5 / 1 ranked recruit in the Class of 2023 and a consensus five-star prospect, announced on Monday he's joining the Wildcats,. #1 player in the country, DJ Wagner with the FILTHY MOVE & Finish in transition #EYBLSession3 pic.twitter.com/1YtE1veOch. Lived In Provo UT, Lincoln CA, Othello WA, Roseville CA . He was consistently knocked off his spot and struggled to adjust. AZ, CO, CT, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, (select parishes), MD, MI, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OR, PA, TN, VA, WV, WY, CA-ONT only.Eligibility restrictions apply. Tweets about Caleb Wagner Caleb Wagner becomes the third former Tiger to commit to the Mustangs in the last two years. Required fields are marked *. wagner verbal commits. 6 pick in the 2002 NBA Draft. Scouts will tell you that Wagner is as well-rounded as the come and is elite on both ends of the floor. Rick Brunson, who led the program to a 73-4 record the last three winters, stepped down in June so he could take a position with the New York Knicks, and the school has yet to announce his replacement. Trademarks - Verbal Commits, verbalcommits.com, and the Verbal Commits Logos are trademarks and property of Orange Wolf LLC. His brother Kareem Watkins and former Panther teammate Lance Ware are both on the roster, and current Camden running mate and fellow five-star recruit Aaron Bradshaw committed in October. With over 2,000 career points in high school, Wagner stands 6-foot-4 and should be among the most dynamic guards in the nation this upcoming season. Most of all, there's no denying that he's going to have to shoot the ball from long-range at a higher rate than he did this summer, and yet also no glaring mechanical deficiency that should prevent him from doing so. 6-6 / More:Finally! ", Kentucky basketball recruiting:Top 2023 prospects DJ Wagner, Aaron Bradshaw to visit Big Blue Madness: Report. Kenny Payne and Danny Manning will make sure of that. Kim takes 4-shot lead at weather-delayed John Deere Classic. 1 in the 247Sports Composite. 215, PG / (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
. section: | slug: kentucky-basketball-recruiting-dj-wagner-commits-to-wildcats-giving-them-no-1-ranked-class-over-duke | sport: collegebasketball | route: article_single.us | Tyrese Maxey. This upcoming class will be among the best head coach John Calipari has had in Lexington. 2) and Robert Dillingham (Overtime Elite, Atlanta; No. 5 prospect in the country, per ESPN. 18h. 185, PF / A member of the 2022 USA Basketball Men's U17 National Team, Wagner averaged 19.8 points per game while leading his high school team to a state title during his junior season. Louisvilles chances to land Wagner are high. Wagner is both quick and strong. Commit 4/27/2021. Iowa St. dismisses G Grill, adding to late-season woes, Illinois' Mayer says he got sick from too many Monsters, Alabama vs. Auburn odds, picks, prediction, bets, Xavier vs. Providence odds, picks, prediction, bets, Charleston Southern vs. High Point odds, picks, bets, Tennessee's Zakai Ziegler to miss season with ACL tear. 1 recruit in the Class of 2023 in . As for other Kentucky targets in the 2023 class, Dajuan Wagner Jr. remains the No. "That made a huge difference. Calipari coached Wagner's father, Dajuan, at Memphis, and first-year Louisville coach Kenny Payne played with Wagner's grandfather, Milt, on Louisville's 1986 national championship team. "Ive seen the impact this game and the people who play it can have on the community," Wagner said in a statement, "and Im looking forward to taking it to the next level with Nike in Camden and beyond. 2), Aaron Bradshaw (No. * 21+ (19+ CA-ONT) (18+ NH/WY). "This was an extremely difficult decision that I went back-and-forth with for a long time. Wagner was not only able to play through the contact but seemed to enjoy it. Wagner, a 6-foot-3 combo guard from South . Keep me updated when new posts are created. 200, PF / No. Booker is a 6 10, 205-pound center from Indianapolis, IN. New Jersey's reigning Gatorade Boys Basketball Player of the Year, Wagner has not taken an official visit to Louisville, which under first-year coach Kenny Payne hired the prospect's grandfather, Milt Wagner, as its director of player development and alumni relations in May. That is not the case with Louisville. 12:09 pm ET, GG Jackson reclassifying from the 2023 to 2022 recruiting class, almost certainly as a way to try and lure DJ Wagner to Louisville, Iowa St. dismisses G Grill, adding to late-season woes, Illinois' Mayer says he got sick from too many Monsters, Alabama vs. Auburn odds, picks, prediction, bets, Xavier vs. Providence odds, picks, prediction, bets, Charleston Southern vs. High Point odds, picks, bets, Tennessee's Zakai Ziegler to miss season with ACL tear, Best fit for No. Ashton Hagans. 1-ranked recruit Wagner chooses Kentucky, No. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. SG / Even with Milt Wagner's presence at Louisville, the gravitational pull to UK -- which offers a bigger platform and a chance to play for a Hall of Famer -- might be too much for the Cardinals to overcome. The 2023 class is their chance to prove that they can do it. It's crazy the history of guards they have had over there. The MVP of the game though was Aaron Bradshaw. With top overall prospect GG Jackson reclassifying from the 2023 to 2022 recruiting class, all eyes now turn to DJ Wagner -- who was quickly elevated to the No. 200, PF / 6-2 / With Wagner off the board, No. Wagner's stepbrother, Kareem Watkins, signed with the Wildcats as a walk-on in November 2020 and is heading into his junior season with the team. He chose Kentucky over Louisville and many others. I don't know.. 240. Connections:Shortly after Louisville tabbed Payne as Chris Mack's successor, Payne tapped into the alumni pipeline and hired Milt Wagner as the program's director of player development and alumni relations, almost certainly as a way to try and lure DJ Wagner to Louisville. 5-10 / Aaron Bradshaw, DJ Wagners teammate with the Scholars and at Camden high school, is a consensus five-star center in the 2023 class. Dont expect it to happen, but interesting nonetheless. Kentucky has long been viewed as the heavy favorite for the son of Dajuan Wagner, who Calipari coached during his days at Memphis. 210, SF / Ive never seem him so jovial and excited as he was talking to his former teammates and friends. Bradshaw is long and rangy at 7 210-pounds. Met Nick Wagner in 2012 in Ada, Minn. With top overall prospect GG Jackson reclassifying from the 2023 to 2022 recruiting class, all eyes now turn to DJ Wagner-- who was quickly elevated to the No.
There are a number of things at play from on-court fit to off-court fit, familial connections to, well, more familial connections. 6-6 / Off-court fit: The Wagner family themselves don't have ties to Kentucky -- only to its coach. Chris Murphy. He's been a mentor in my life and he's helped develop me into the player and person that I am. The 5-star guards recruitment has been fairly quiet for a while but since the start of the live period he has heard from Arkansas, Kentucky, Villanova, Gonzaga, Duke, Temple, Syracuse, and Michigan among others. A program that would get me better everyday, get me to be the best that I can be, and where I can help win as many games as possible, he said. Wagner, a 5-star recruit and the consensus number 1 ranked player in the 2023 class, is a 6 3 combo guard who does it all. 1 overall prospect Isaiah Collier is the only player remaining in the top 10 of the class who has yet to commit. Louisville football: How great can the 2023 class be? He lacks great positional size and is a good, albeit not great, overall athlete. Wagner, along with his potential NIL deal, could help shape the future of college basketball. On-court fit: Louisville doesn't yet have an on-court identity under new coach Kenny Payne. He also sent both fanbases into a frenzy by signing with and appearing in an ad campaign for Nike sub-label NOCTA, a collaboration with rapper (and noted Wildcats fan) Drake. A Sea of Blue comes loaded with Kentucky Wildcats links, news, analysis, and some other fun stuff, so like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter. Wagner, the No. 2 ranked class also features five players who range between No. StatusSigned LOI with Palm Beach Atlantic Year2022 (HS SR) PositionPG Height6-0 Weight165 HometownJonesborough, TN ", Flashback: Bronny dropped to floor by top 2023 prospect D.J. 5) and Robert Dillingham (No. He added that reading and reacting will be key to success within the system and that defense will be a focal point. Gambling problem? I agree to receive the "CBS Sports HQ Newsletter" and marketing communications, updates, special offers (including partner offers), and other information from CBS Sports and the Paramount family of companies. 2005-2023 CBS INTERACTIVE ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. The 6-foot-3, 175-pound Sheppard is now ranked 21st overall and fourth among shooting guards in the Class of 2023. All-Time Commits View All All other trademarks mentioned herein . There are not two better big-man coaches in college basketball and, under their tutelage, Bradshaw could be the top NBA draft pick in 2024. Jessica Wagner may also have lived outside of Provo, such as Pleasant Grove, Smithfield and Springville. 26-ranked prospect Reed Sheppard. In theory, the move should have given first-year coach Kenny Payne a leg up on Calipari in the recruiting process. In addition to his chops as a scorer, Wagner also averaged 4.3 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 3.2 steals last season. 6-9 / 44) in the group. 210, SF / As of right now Im considering everyone and enjoying the process., : It was good, we had a nice conversation and I love Kentucky especially with family ties and things like that. runner-up finish in the Tournament of Champions, Finally! Villanova: It was a pretty good visit and I liked it. 220, SF / In a statement upon his hiring at Louisville, Milt Wagner called Payne his "brother" and said Louisville is his "second home." Nothing but love for him.". Wagner was a sensation from the start, helping to lead the . Wagner's father, Dajuan Wagner, played for Kentucky coach John Calipari at Memphis and was selected with the No. That, seemingly, would make his fit with the program go seamlessly, especially given his familiarity and comfort level with the school that dates back far longer than Kentucky. Wagner is considered the No. He's decisive once he gets into the paint, knowing when to pull-up, jump-stop and use his floater or kick out to an open teammate for a shot. Duke's No. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 210, SF / Dajuan Wagner went on to become the No. 6-5 / 6-3 / And that meant so much to me. 1 recruit in the Class of 2023 in the 247Sports rankings -- and his dramatic Bluegrass State recruiting battle. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. Terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. Kentucky landed another huge commitment from the Class of 2023 on Monday, when five-star guard DJ Wagner committed to the Wildcats. Wagner is considered the No. Johnson has ideal size for a guard at 6 5 and is one of the best athletes in the class. 200, PF / By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. This will be Paynes first true recruiting class and he, better than most, understands that a major splash is needed. Milt Wagner played at Louisville with its current coach. "My father definitely helps me a lot because he's been through the whole process. "I'm real comfortable with my decision. Hard Commits (2) Pos Ht / Wt Rating Status. 2004-2023 CBS Interactive. John Wall. Against Brad Beal Elite, Bradshaw was matched up against two stronger interior players and got pushed around. Wagner picked Kentucky over Louisville, where his grandfather Milt Wagner is the programs director of player development and alumni relations. Wagner is a 6-foot-3 combo guard from Camden, New Jersey, who has long been regarded as one of the top players of the 2023 cycle. One that will live and grow with more information and new features to keep up with the ever changing basketball landscape. I want to be fast. DJ Wagner dubbed one of the 20 most important CBB names over the next 20 years, Tshiebwe & Toppin make interesting comments about possibly returning for another season. 176, PF / 1 overall, Tshiebwe & Toppin make interesting comments about possibly returning for another season. Coach John Calipari was always straightforward and honest with me. He also displayed a nice face-up game from which he knocked down mid-range jump shots and drove to the rim. Odds & lines subject to change. 1 prospect D.J. SCNext Top 25: Ranking the best high school boys' basketball teams in the 2022-23 season, Hoops hotbed Camden is ready for No. It's crazy the history of guards they have had over there. 8) rounding out the quartet. 6-7 / Louisvilles prodigal son, Pervis Ellison, the director of the New Jersey Scholars program, was also on hand. Scouts will tell you that Wagner is as well-rounded as the come and is elite on both ends of the floor. 6-3 / Milt Wagner, Wagner's grandfather, served on Calipari's staff at Memphis from 2000 through 2006 in basketball operations. Pervis is an important ally in Wagners (and Aaron Bradshaws) recruitment and KP seems to have Pervis in his corner. That leads me what impressed me most about Wagner his grit. section: | slug: dj-wagner-recruitment-is-kentucky-or-louisville-the-best-fit-for-the-no-1-prospect-in-the-class-of-2023 | sport: collegebasketball | route: article_single.us | "That's how I want to play. 1-ranked high school senior, announced his commitment to Kentucky on Monday, choosing the Wildcats over Louisville. If the Wildcats finish the cycle at the top -- and Wagner's pledge likely seals that -- it will be the seventh time since Calipari took over in Lexington that Kentucky has the top-ranked recruiting class. 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