DJ Wagner, No. 1 C/O 2023 basketball recruit, picks Kentucky聽
LEXINGTON, Ky. (BVM) 鈥� After a long battle between programs from the Bluegrass State, Camden High School basketball star DJ Wagner finally made his decision. On Monday, the No. 1 overall prospect in the Class of 2023 announced his commitment to the University of Kentucky, picking the Wildcats over the nearby University of Louisville Cardinals.
“I can鈥檛 wait, I鈥檓 excited,” Wagner said during an interview with ESPN鈥檚 Paul Biancardi. “It鈥檚 a great team that wants to win and get that NCAA Championship.”
Breaking: DJ Wagner tells he has committed to the University of Kentucky.
Wagner is the No. 1 overall prospect in the ESPN 100 for the class of 2023. @SportsCenterNEXT
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter)
The commitment is a huge one for Kentucky as they secure their third player in the top five players in the alongside Wagner鈥檚 teammate and No. 5 overall player Aaron Bradshaw and No. 2 overall player Justin Edwards of Imhotep Institute Charter High School in Philadelphia.
“[We have] a lot of work to do but I can鈥檛 wait,” Wagner said. “I feel like we鈥檙e all prepared. I鈥檓 excited.”
Wagner, a 6-foot-3 point guard, averaged 19.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 3.2 steals while leading his team to a 30-2 record and a New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association Group 2 state championship. He was also named the state鈥檚 Player of the Year, his second consecutive time earning the honor.
According to Wagner, Kentucky head coach John Calipari compares the star guard to former Wildcat Tyrese Maxey. Given Maxey ended up as a first-round pick and is now a key piece to the Philadelphia 76ers, the comparison is certainly a compliment.
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With Wagner鈥檚 commitment, this will be the second time Calipari will coach a member of the Wagner family. DJ鈥檚 father, Dajuan, played under Calipari during his time at the University of Memphis, eventually becoming a lottery pick in the 2003 NBA Draft. DJ鈥檚 half-brother, , is also a current member of the Wildcats.
As for Louisville, they miss out on DJ despite making a strong push for his services. DJ鈥檚 grandfather, Milt, is a University of Louisville Hall of Famer who ranks No. 6 in Cardinals men鈥檚 basketball history in career points. Milt was also hired by the Cardinals to serve as the team鈥檚 director of player development back in May, further adding intrigue to the upcoming decision by DJ.
Ultimately, the Wildcats won out and they will now reap the benefits of landing the country鈥檚 top player. DJ gets the opportunity to make his own path in the Commonwealth as a member of Kentucky. He will do this under the tutelage of his dad鈥檚 college coach while he looks to become a top pick in the NBA Draft much like his father before him.
“I don’t think of [one and done],” Wagner said. “I just want to win and be the best player I can be.”
With his college decision now complete, DJ will look to once again help lead his Camden Panthers to a state championship in what will be his final high school season. Having already earned his place in Camden and New Jersey basketball history, DJ will look to do the same at the next level with Kentucky. For DJ and the Wildcats faithful, the decision was well worth the wait.
