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. Wagner, a 6-foot-3 combo guard from South . He proved that last weekend. 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 | "My grandfather was always my grandfather throughout the process. D.J. 1 overall, Tshiebwe & Toppin make interesting comments about possibly returning for another season. All rights reserved. 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. 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. Kentucky now has five commitments. He is arguably the best shot blocker in the class and moves as well as any 7-footer that Ive seen. 1 recruit to commit to the Wildcats under Calipari, following Shaedon Sharpe, Nerlens Noel and Anthony Davis. Verbal Commits Our team has been working around the clock to bring you a brand new Verbal Commits platform. 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 | Wagner, the No. 2 ranked class also features five players who range between No. Wagner's father, Dajuan Wagner, played for Kentucky coach John Calipari at Memphis and was selected with the No. Your email address will not be published. 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. With Wagner off the board, No. Sign me up for this projected path today! It's a really nice school. Which means his decision could come at any time. [email protected] www.stateoflouisville.com, Four class of 2023 recruits to know for Louisville basketball, on Four class of 2023 recruits to know for Louisville basketball. "My father definitely helps me a lot because he's been through the whole process. 6-5 / DJ Wagner, the top college basketball recruit in the 2023 class, has strengthened his ties to the University of Kentucky's longtime apparel sponsor. 200, PF / DJ Wagner is a 6-foot-2 combination guard out of Camden (N.J.) High that ranks as the No. He chose Kentucky over Louisville and many others.. With Wagner's commitment, Kentucky leaps Duke for the No. Michigan State has been in on Booker for a while and is considered the favorite. Chris Murphy. Terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. 176, PF / 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. It's crazy the history of guards they have had over there. 305, PF / He always said what's best for me. Congratulations on th https://t.co/7dmp9LKu9A 42d All Rights Reserved. 2), Aaron Bradshaw (No. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Tyrese Maxey. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. SG / 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 . As for other Kentucky targets in the 2023 class, Dajuan Wagner Jr. remains the No. 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. I want to be athletic. Villanova: It was a pretty good visit and I liked it. 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. Bradshaws biggest flaw is, as for most 7-foot prospects, his lack of strength. 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. And Louisville legends have been a mainstay around DJ Wagner on the grassroots circuit thanks to those connections. Wagner, along with his potential NIL deal, could help shape the future of college basketball. Bradshaw ran the floor, finished at the rim, and blocked shots. This upcoming class will be among the best head coach John Calipari has had in Lexington. 1 ranked 2023 recruiting class. 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. On Saturday night, when Wagner faced Bronny James and Strive for Greatness, there were a number of former players in attendance, including Darrell Griffith, Robbie Valentine, Herbert Crook, Wiley Brown, Kevin Walls, Jerry Eaves, Tick Rogers, Beau Zach Smith, Will Olliges, Russ Smith, Sydney Curry, El Ellis, and Mike James. The Cardinals made headlines in May when they hired Milt Wagner to the role of director of player development and alumni relations. "My older brother Kareem is on the team," he said. That leads me what impressed me most about Wagner his grit. Odds & lines subject to change. On-court fit:John Calipari puts the ball in the hands of its guards and lets them run the show. 200, PF / In addition to his chops as a scorer, Wagner also averaged 4.3 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 3.2 steals last season. Kenny Payne and the Louisville basketball staff are off and running in their recruitment of top talent in the 2023 class. 36d Jeff Borzello and Paul Biancardi. We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from. 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. 176, PF / Call 1-800-GAMBLER. 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. 6-9 / CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. SG / DJ Wagner, the top college basketball recruit in the 2023 class, has strengthened his ties to the University of Kentucky's longtime apparel sponsor. Louisvilles prodigal son, Pervis Ellison, the director of the New Jersey Scholars program, was also on hand. He made a nice string of plays late in the game, but, ultimately, he struggled. It goes without saying that DJ Wagner is Louisville's top target in the 2023 class. 6-9 / I'm a college basketball fan and I love watching March Madness.. 6-3 / 12 Vols lose starting PG Zeigler to torn ACL, Tide's Oats takes blame for Miller's 'TSA' intro, Iowa State dismisses third-leading scorer Grill, Davis within 25 points of tying Maravich's mark, Scheyer makes history as Duke sweeps at home, USC, OU, Seton Hall, Iowa in new hoops tourney, Man pleads guilty for trying to extort GT, Pastner, Sizing up the player of the year winners in all 32 Division I men's conferences, 5 things to know as Antoine Davis is set to pass 'Pistol' Pete's scoring record. 5) and Robert Dillingham (No. at Off-court fit: Wagner has signed an NIL deal -- already! To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. NA NA NA. It's impossible to project as we sit here in the dog days of summer as he's never been a head coach, but everything Payne has said about what the system will look like suggests Wagner and his abilities as a do-it-all guard would be properly featured. 6-7 / Duke's No. 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. Wagner, Bradshaw, Medley and Robinson will have a group signing ceremony on Wednesday. I went into the weekend skeptical of Bradshaws high billing, but I came away thinking he may be underrated. Wagner is both quick and strong. 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. 6-7 / 1 ranked recruit in the Class of 2023 and a consensus five-star prospect, announced on Monday he's joining the Wildcats,. The reasoning why is pretty clear, and it is because Wagner will trailblaze the path for massive NIL deals. The 6-foot-3, 175-pound Sheppard is now ranked 21st overall and fourth among shooting guards in the Class of 2023. It could also be just a recruiting ploy, but either way, I'm filing this away in the category of "interesting and possibly noteworthy.". 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. 1 player in the class of 2023, drops Bronny James before connecting on his jump shot. ", Kentucky basketball recruiting:Top 2023 prospects DJ Wagner, Aaron Bradshaw to visit Big Blue Madness: Report. He lacks great positional size and is a good, albeit not great, overall athlete. RT @SeeMurphsTweets: Met Nick Wagner in 2012 in Ada, Minn. 2. Keep me updated when new posts are created. A Sea of Blue comes loaded with the best Kentucky Wildcats links, news, analysis, and some other fun stuff, so be sure to go like our Facebook page and then go follow us on Twitter. Wagner is considered the No. I look up to him; we are very close.
"This was an extremely difficult decision that I went back-and-forth with for a long time. 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. I don't know.. Wagner is also the fourth No. 6-5 / Scouts will tell you that Wagner is as well-rounded as the come and is elite on both ends of the floor. You can also contact him at 856-486-2431. 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. Bradshaw is long and rangy at 7 210-pounds. 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. KP, Nolan Smith, and Danny Manning have all recruited and developed top tier talent and they intend to do more of the same at Louisville. 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. All Filters. 220, SF / The familial connection to Calipari was obvious. I expect Louisville to be added to that list in the coming months. Louisville basketball needs guards but whos available? 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. #1 player in the country, DJ Wagner with the FILTHY MOVE & Finish in transition #EYBLSession3 pic.twitter.com/1YtE1veOch. The Kentucky Wildcats . However, when an athletes recruitment blows up like Bookers has, no school is a true favorite Louisville fans have seen that movie. 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. When Wagner arrives in Lexington on Friday, it will be at least the third time he's visited UK. More:Finally! 180, SF / The Cats have the No. Met Nick Wagner in 2012 in Ada, Minn. He's a scoring point guard in the mold of Cleveland Cavaliers star Darius Garland. Louisvilles chances to land Wagner are high. New assistant coach Orlando Antigua was the primary coach in contact with Sheppard once recruiting restrictions with 2023 prospects were lifted in June. "We recognize some student-athletes may agree to NIL deals with apparel companies other than Adidas," Banker said. Critics have also questioned his ability to shoot consistently from three, but he connected on plenty of open looks. Commit 4/27/2021. 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. Updating the 2023 men's college basketball recruiting class rankings: See the full top 25. He's learning how to orchestrate in pick-and-rolls and he's always been effective as a downhill penetrator, getting into the paint and finishing with high-level body control. 200, PF / Resides in Pleasant Grove, UT. 205, OT / He chose Kentucky over Louisville and many others. Reach recruiting and trending sports reporter Brooks Holton at [email protected] and follow him on Twitter at @brooksHolton. John Dilworth "Dil" Wagner Obituary Remember John Dilworth "Dil" Wagner. Dont expect it to happen, but interesting nonetheless. As for other Kentucky targets in the 2023 class, Dajuan Wagner Jr. remains the No. Defend VA Medical Center institutional NRC License for usages of radioisotopes . 180, 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. 6-6 / Kentucky has long been viewed as the heavy favorite for the son of Dajuan Wagner, who Calipari coached during his days at Memphis. He has also already taken two visits to Temple and Villanova. Verbal Commits - Wagner Seahawks Basketball Recruiting Scholarship Chart: Roster, Offers, Commits, Targets, Rankings SCNext Top 25: Ranking the best high school boys' basketball teams in the 2022-23 season, Hoops hotbed Camden is ready for No. Wagner was the subject of an intense recruiting battle between in-state rivals Kentucky and Louisville, with strong familial ties to both programs. The Panthers are loaded up to repeat with All-South Jersey First Team selections Wagner, Bradshaw and Cian Medley (St. Louis recruit) back, as well as Third Team honorees Dasear Haskins and Overbrook transfer Jaylan Hornsby, plus Cornelius Robinson (Albany) and several others high-quality players. 6-2 / Commit And while Wagner has not revealed a timeline for his decision publicly, rumors have for weeks swirled that one could come around Peach Jam -- which just concluded -- or sometime in the lead-up to the 2022-23 season. Despite what the outlets up the road want to believe, Louisville is now the favorite to land DJ Wanger. 6-2 / 6-6 / He said he would be with me until the wheels fall off the car either way. But his grandfather, Milt Wagner, starred for Louisville in the early 1980s under Denny Crum. 240. Lived In Provo UT, Lincoln CA, Othello WA, Roseville CA . Required fields are marked *. introduced as a member of the Nike Basketball family, his reportedly scheduled visit to Lexington for Big Blue Madness, Top 2023 prospects DJ Wagner, Aaron Bradshaw to visit Big Blue Madness: Report, signing with and appearing in an ad campaign for Nike sub-label NOCTA, These players have committed to the Wildcats' 2023 class, director of player development and alumni relations, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. While those names may spearhead how the future looks, Wagner is going to be impactful for the high-profile names that follow him. In general, I really just love college basketball so any coach I talk to is exciting. 8) already in the fold. Wagner has many other connections to Kentucky too. He was a high schooler taking pics at a prep volleyball match I was covering. Impressive player. 2004-2023 CBS Interactive. 215, PG / 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. Kenny Payne and Danny Manning will make sure of that. John Wall. Reed Sheppard reaches 5-star status; Dajuan Wagner Jr. still No. 220, SF / 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. The details of Wagner's deals with the company have not been disclosed. 185, PF / Aaron Bradshaw, DJ Wagners teammate with the Scholars and at Camden high school, is a consensus five-star center in the 2023 class. 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. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
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