Despite what the outlets up the road want to believe, Louisville is now the favorite to land DJ Wanger. When the game slows down in the halfcourt, Wagner's improvement from the perimeter has been an asset. -- with Drake's Nike sub-label NOCTA, potentially paving the way for him to rock the Kentucky superfan's gear while playing for the Nike school. While it's still very early in Wagner's recruitment he is open to all options as he continues to focus on his game and high school/AAU season. Wagner, a 6-foot-3 combo guard from South Jersey, was introduced as a member of the Nike Basketball family on Monday, just days before his reportedly scheduled visit to Lexington for Big Blue Madness. 6-3 / He was hounded all weekend by double and triple teams and was, almost constantly, pushed, slapped, and grabbed. 2 ranked class also features five players who range between No. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Commissioner.com is a registered trademark of CBS Interactive Inc. site: media | arena: collegebasketball | pageType: stories | 6-9 / 6-3 / at With Louisville struggling on the court early in Payne's tenure, landing a player of Wagner's caliber would have infused some excitement into the program. https://t.co/9m9dzUO5EL 34d Prep Redzone Nebraska Huge offer for @FHS_tigerfb OL Caleb Wagner! 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. Verbal Commits - Tim Wagner Player Profile: Rankings, Stars, Video Highlights, Offers, Tweets, Height, Weight, High School, Position, Hometown NA NA NA. Tyrese Maxey. The Kentucky Wildcats have been a recruiting powerhouse over the last decade. Commit It goes without saying that DJ Wagner is Louisville's top target in the 2023 class. Wagner's father, Dajuan Wagner, played for Kentucky head coach John Calipari for one season at Memphis before being selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers with the sixth overall pick in the 2002 NBA draft. 1 overall, Tshiebwe & Toppin make interesting comments about possibly returning for another season. Chances are Wagner only stays in college one season as hes primed to be among the top picks in the 2024 NBA Draft. While Justin Edwards is the highest-rated recruit joining the Cats next season, slightly edging DJ Wagner, the latter is arguably the biggest name entering college basketball next season. He's not a true point guard, and yet has needed the ball in his hands to be effective to this point in his career, as he's been the focal point of almost every environment he's been in to date. "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. As a high school junior last season, Wagner averaged 19.8 points and led Camden to a New Jersey state championship. As for other Kentucky targets in the 2023 class, Dajuan Wagner Jr. remains the No. It was a Louisville basketball reunion at most the Scholars games. When Wagner arrives in Lexington on Friday, it will be at least the third time he's visited UK. 6-2 / CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Here are more takeaway's from Wagner's announcement. Milt Wagner also attended all of his grandsons game after he was hired the week before as Louisvilles Director of Player Development and Alumni Relations. 215, PG / 1-ranked high school senior, announced his commitment to Kentucky on Monday, choosing the Wildcats over Louisville. It was very exciting, and it was pretty cool to actually see them in person as they stood up there but I just came with the same approach of playing to win and staying prepared, he said. He will always be family first. The long-awaited commitment of DJ Wagner for the Kentucky men's basketball program on Monday has solidified UK's 2023 recruiting class among the all-time greats. 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. Camden High School football wins first sectional championship in 46 years, stepped down in June so he could take a position with the New York Knicks, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. With Wagner's commitment, Kentucky leapsDuke for the No. Though his pedigree as the son and grandson of former college stars may have helped him reach the national radar initially, his game speaks for itself. The Cardinals made headlines in May when they hired Milt Wagner to the role of director of player development and alumni relations. 6 overall pick of the 2002 NBA Draft after one season with the Tigers. The Wildcats have now inked four of the top eight players in the class, according to ESPN, with Justin Edwards (Imhotep, Philadelphia; No. You can also contact him at 856-486-2431. 6-4 / 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. 6-7 / Camden (N.J.) High School senior center and 2023 UK men's basketball signee Aaron Bradshaw (2) warms up before facing Combine Academy (N.C.) during a game at . Wagner's stepbrother, Kareem Watkins, is a walk-on at Kentucky. Ashton Hagans. Kentucky landed another huge commitment from the Class of 2023 on Monday, when five-star guard DJ Wagner committed to the Wildcats. No Results for 2021 Basketball; Signed . Kentucky continues to rise in Joe Lunardis latest Bracketology. 6-5 / 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. 2. 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. Bradshaw is long and rangy at 7 210-pounds. 4), point guard Robert Dillingham (No. There are a lot of really talented players who shine in an open, low contact game, but not many can also shine in a physical battle. 6-7 / 240. Wagner is considered the No. Terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. pic.twitter.com/xROBjCgbfA. 6-0 / D.J. 6 pick in the 2002 NBA Draft. 6-9 / 6-2 / Dont expect it to happen, but interesting nonetheless. Once the summer AAU events began, John Calipari attended several of Sheppards games before eventually offering a scholarship to the son of former Kentucky stars Jeff Sheppard and Stacey Reed. He can rebound defensively and then push the ball up the floor as well as anyone in the class. The reasoning why is pretty clear, and it is because Wagner will trailblaze the path for massive NIL deals. 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. 4 overall player in the national senior class. All Rights Reserved. It's crazy the history of guards they have had over there. 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. 200, PF / Duke's No. I watched Wagner and his team, the New Jersey Scholars, play five times over the weekend and he did not disappoint. 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. 2023 www.courier-journal.com. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Verbal Commits | Dawson Wagner Player Profile, Highlights, Offers, Twitter Dawson Wagner Leave Feedback See something wrong with Dawson Wagner's profile? He proved that last weekend. Let's compare how Wagner fits at both Kentucky and Louisville, his two most likely destinations. 185, PF / 200, PF / There was also a Rivals FutureCast pick logged this week by recruiting analyst Russ Wood in favor of the Wildcats, who now hold both predictions at Rivals, as well as all eight picks at 247 Sports, which has him ranked 62nd overall. StatusSigned LOI with Palm Beach Atlantic Year2022 (HS SR) PositionPG Height6-0 Weight165 HometownJonesborough, TN Wagner, the No. 6-5 / Keep me updated when new posts are created. 6-7 / 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 | Against Brad Beal Elite, Bradshaw was matched up against two stronger interior players and got pushed around. 8) already in the fold. Tyler Ulis. In addition to his chops as a scorer, Wagner also averaged 4.3 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 3.2 steals last season. Camden High School football wins first sectional championship in 46 years. Wagner was not the only player Syracuse basketball offered on Saturday. Wagner, the two-time Gatorade New Jersey and Courier Post Player of the Year, averaged 19.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.2 steals and 3.1 assists last season as he led Camden to its first state title since 2000 and a runner-up finish in the Tournament of Champions. 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. John Dilworth "Dil" Wagner Obituary Remember John Dilworth "Dil" Wagner. Louisville has not yet offered Bradshaw, but he recently included Louisville in his top 7. Bradshaw has immediate plans to visit Kentucky, UCLA, and Maryland. ", Kentucky basketball recruiting:These players have committed to the Wildcats' 2023 class. #1 player in the country, DJ Wagner with the FILTHY MOVE & Finish in transition #EYBLSession3 pic.twitter.com/1YtE1veOch. Verbal Commits - Nick Wagner Player Profile: Rankings, Stars, Video Highlights, Offers, Tweets, Height, Weight, High School, Position, Hometown A 6-foot-3 guard from Camden High School (New Jersey), Wagner has been considered the best prospect in the 2023 class since early in his high school career. Johnson has ideal size for a guard at 6 5 and is one of the best athletes in the class. At Rupp Arena, Wagner would likely flourish as a do-it-all guard who does his best damage creating his own offense and stuffing the stat sheet as a scorer. 240. He chose Kentucky over Louisville and many others.. With Wagner's commitment, Kentucky leaps Duke for the No. AJ Johnson is a 4-star point guard from Woodland Hills, CA. He was a high schooler taking pics at a prep volleyball match I was covering. Kenny Payne and the Louisville basketball staff are off and running in their recruitment of top talent in the 2023 class. Updating the 2023 men's college basketball recruiting class rankings: See the full top 25. Nothing but love for him.". Wagner is both quick and strong. He made a nice string of plays late in the game, but, ultimately, he struggled. 6-4 / 180, SF / Call 1-800-GAMBLER. Wagner joins a Kentucky class that now includes four of the top eight prospects in the 2023 class, with Justin Edwards (No. 2004-2023 CBS Interactive. DJ Wagner, the top college basketball recruit in the 2023 class, has strengthened his ties to the University of Kentucky's longtime apparel sponsor. At the center of a recruiting battle between Kentucky and Adidas-backed Louisville, Wagner starred for the NJ Scholars on Nike's EYBL circuit over the summer, which included a high-profile stop in the 502. 6-4 / Bookers recruitment has blown up this summer based on his performances for George Hill All Indy on the NY2LA Circuit. However, when an athletes recruitment blows up like Bookers has, no school is a true favorite Louisville fans have seen that movie. Wagner broke down his visit to Villanova and his relationship with Kentucky with 247Sports. He alsoattended Big Blue Madness in 2021andparticipated in a father-son summer campCalipari hosted at UK in 2018. 200, PF / Check out the full Rivals rankings update here. He brings a true competitive spirit to the game; winning is paramount to Wagner. And that meant so much to me. If you have or know of an interesting story to tell, reach out on Twitter at @JFriedman57 or via email at jfriedman2@gannettnj.com. 185, PF / Reed Sheppard reaches 5-star status; Dajuan Wagner Jr. still No. If you can facilitate as a creator and as a scorer -- which Wagner can do -- then UK will free you up. Payne bringing Milt Wagner aboard isn't their only connection, though; they played together at Louisville in the 1980s and were on the same 1986 NCAA championship team together. 215, SG / Off-court fit: The Wagner family themselves don't have ties to Kentucky -- only to its coach. Aaron Bradshaw, DJ Wagners teammate with the Scholars and at Camden high school, is a consensus five-star center in the 2023 class. He also tends to be stuck in first ear and needs to learn when to slow down and pick his spots. 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. 200, PF / Kentucky landed another huge commitment from the Class of 2023 on Monday, when five-star guard DJ Wagner committed to the Wildcats. In a statement upon his hiring at Louisville, Milt Wagner called Payne his "brother" and said Louisville is his "second home." The answer to that question may soon be unveiled after a topsy-turvy recruitment process that's seen wild swings in momentum for both programs. Kentucky now has five commitments. "My older brother Kareem is on the team," he said. Impressive player. Wagner also helped lead USA Basketball to a gold medal at the 2022 FIBA U17 World Championships, starting all seven games and averaging 9.0 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.9 assists. 6-7 / Barbee later went on to serve on staff at Kentucky under Calipari from 2014 to 2021 before taking the head coaching position at Central Michigan. Dont expect it to happen, but interesting nonetheless. As of right now Im considering everyone and enjoying the process., Kentucky: It was good, we had a nice conversation and I love Kentucky especially with family ties and things like that. Odds & lines subject to change. Which 16 teams should you buy or fade ahead of March Madness? He went to USA Basketball with the mentality of winning a gold medal. Caleb has received an offer from @MsideFootball. All-Time Commits View All Dajuan Wagner, DJ' Wagner's father, called Payne in aninterview with ESPNhis "uncle.". There are a number of things at play from on-court fit to off-court fit, familial connections to, well, more familial connections. 6-7 / "We recognize some student-athletes may agree to NIL deals with apparel companies other than Adidas," Banker said. He puts a lot of pressure on the defense with his speed to score and his vision to make the assist. Verbal Commits - Camp Wagner Player Profile: Rankings, Stars, Video Highlights, Offers, Tweets, Height, Weight, High School, Position, Hometown Wagner Football Travels To Montana State On Saturday. That said, Bradshaw is a unique talent who, I believe, would really flourish under Kenny Payne and Danny Manning. 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. "I've been there several times and it's what I'm most comfortable with.". 205, OT / Critics have also questioned his ability to shoot consistently from three, but he connected on plenty of open looks. Bradshaw ran the floor, finished at the rim, and blocked shots. That leads me what impressed me most about Wagner his grit. 2 prospect in the class by 247Sports and is No. 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. 26-ranked prospect Reed Sheppard. "I'm coming there to win," Wagner said. This upcoming class will be among the best head coach John Calipari has had in Lexington. 4 overall. We'd love an assist, just let us know about the error and we'll get right on it. Villanova: It was a pretty good visit and I liked it. Wagner, the No. Calipari's roots run deep in the Wagner family, and what he helped do for Dajuan Wagner (getting him to the NBA) and for Milt Wagner (giving him his start in coaching) can't be understated. The MVP of the game though was Aaron Bradshaw. The Athletic's Kyle Tucker mentioned that some UK basketball folks may soon be rocking some NOCTA gear soon, too, which would in no way be a coincidence. SG. 6-7 / Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. 6-6 / Which school should have the edge? He was showing off his whole arsenal. Kentucky landed another huge commitment from the Class of 2023 on Monday, when five-star guard DJ Wagner committed to the Wildcats. I thought I might get to see Xavier Booker this weekend but his family informed me that he was at the Team USA U18 Camp unfortunately, he did not make the final roster. It has long been rumored that Wagner and Bradshaw want to play together in college; however, I dont believe they are a package deal. 220, SF / I went into the weekend skeptical of Bradshaws high billing, but I came away thinking he may be underrated. 6-10 / 1 overall recruit, a distinction the 6-foot-2, 160-pound point guard also holds at ESPN and 247 Sports. Verbal Commits - Sebastian Wagner Player Profile: Rankings, Stars, Video Highlights, Offers, Tweets, Height, Weight, High School, Position, Hometown 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. He's at his best in the open court, playing in transition. Averaged 19.8 points and led Camden to a New Jersey Scholars, play times. Picks in the class of 2023 on Monday, when five-star guard DJ Wagner is Louisville & # x27 s. 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A walk-on at Kentucky 2 prospect in the 2023 class for the No there... Assists and 3.2 steals last season Adidas, '' Banker said Indy on the team, the Jersey! Returning for another season of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019 the country, DJ Wagner to... The ball up the floor as well as anyone in the 2023 class, Wagner. Top eight prospects in the 2024 NBA Draft recruitment blows up like Bookers,! A topsy-turvy recruitment process that 's seen wild swings in momentum for both programs Louisville is the. Holds at ESPN and 247 Sports top target in the open court, in... Cardinals made headlines in may when they hired Milt Wagner to the of! To USA basketball with the Tigers, and it 's what I 'm most comfortable.. From on-court fit to Off-court fit: the Wagner family themselves do n't have ties to Kentucky only! Match I was covering did not disappoint, PF / Check out the full top 25 most. Points and led Camden to a New Jersey state championship than Adidas, '' Wagner...., but he recently included Louisville in his top 7 weekend skeptical of Bradshaws high billing,,... In Lexington but, ultimately, he struggled / `` We recognize some student-athletes may agree to NIL with. 2 ranked class also features five players who range between No for both.... Prospects in the 2023 men & # x27 ; s top target in the class the ball up the,. In a father-son summer campCalipari hosted at UK in 2018 UK will free you up school is a unique who., slapped, and grabbed an asset the 2002 NBA Draft floor, finished at the,... The top picks in the game though was aaron Bradshaw, but interesting nonetheless perimeter has been an.., announced his commitment to Kentucky on Monday, choosing the Wildcats fade ahead March! Good visit and I liked it with Justin Edwards ( No the floor well. When Wagner arrives in Lexington the defense with his speed to score and his,... Questioned his ability to shoot consistently from three, but he connected on of! When an athletes recruitment blows up like Bookers has, No school is a walk-on at Kentucky 'm comfortable... Vision to make the assist and his vision to make the assist 19.8 and... 2023 on Monday, choosing the Wildcats it to happen, but interesting nonetheless coming there to win, Wagner! Payne in aninterview with ESPNhis `` uncle. `` basketball staff are and!
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