BREAKING: 5-star guard DJ Wagner commits to Kentucky

At long last, DJ Wagner is a Kentucky Wildcat.

John Calipari’s top recruiting target since the moment he emerged as a blue-chip prospect, the five-star guard out of Camden, NJ has made it official, signing with Kentucky over bitter rival Louisville — despite the Cardinals hiring his grandfather, Milt Wagner.

The 6-foot-3, 170-pound standout is rated as the No. 1 combo guard and a consensus top-three prospect in the class of 2023.

Wagner joins his high school and grassroots teammate Aaron Bradshaw in the class, with five-star wing Justin Edwards, five-star guard Rob Dillingham and four-star guard Reed Sheppard making up the program’s other additions. Wagner, Bradshaw, Edwards and Dillingham are all rated as consensus top-10 recruits in the senior class.

Beyond Bradshaw, two other connections already find themselves on the Kentucky roster in walk-on guard Kareem Watkins (Wagner’s brother) and junior forward Lance Ware (former high school teammate).

Perhaps the biggest connection in Lexington, though? Calipari himself, who coached the five-star recruit’s father, Dajuan Wagner Sr., at Memphis in 2001-02. He starred for the Tigers, averaging 21.2 points, 3.6 assists and 2.5 rebounds per contest before the then-Memphis coach famously ripped up his scholarship and urged him to declare for the 2002 NBA Draft. Wagner, selected No. 6 overall before signing a $10.7 million rookie deal, later said he owed his life to Calipari after his career was cut short due to health and injury issues (he was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis and had his colon removed in 2005).

20 years later, Wagner Sr. is returning the favor by sending his son to Kentucky to play for the coach who helped push him to generational wealth for his family.

What are the Wildcats getting in the 6-foot-3 guard out of Camden? Wagner is a ferocious competitor with a knack for scoring, using his quick first step to create smooth and crafty finishes around the basket while also setting up shots for himself in the mid-range and from deep. A threat in transition, he lives in attack mode and looks to get downhill for drives and scores while also finding open teammates on the perimeter when defenders collapse. Fundamentally sound with a high basketball IQ, he uses his body well and understands leverage and spacing to create mismatches and easy scoring opportunities. He’s comfortable creating for himself or coming off screens for catch-and-shoot looks — ball-dominant at heart, but can also play off the ball.

Decision-making and shot selection will need to improve at the next level, as he tends to force the issue at times and shoot himself out of cold streaks on occasion. That’s a product of being his team’s go-to scoring and playmaking option both in high school and on the travel circuit, heavily relied on to win games. Weight will be lifted off his shoulders playing alongside other elite guards at Kentucky who are also comfortable creating shots for themselves and carrying the scoring load when necessary. That will allow Wagner to be more selective with his shots and play a more efficient brand of basketball, bringing out his best traits as an elite scorer and winner.

Overall, the newest Wildcat averaged 20.3 points on 49.2% FG, 35.3% 3PT and 65.2% FT in 12 Nike EYBL games before earning Second Team All-Circuit honors at Peach Jam after averaging 15.7 points, 3.8 assists, 3.7 rebounds and 1.2 steals per contest.

As a junior at Camden, Wagner was named New Jersey’s Gatorade Boys’ Basketball Player of the Year for a second straight season after averaging a team-high 19.8 points to go with 4.3 rebounds, 3.2 steals and 3.1 assists, leading his team to a Group 2 state championship. He enters his senior season with 1,477 career points, good for No. 16 on Camden’s all-time scoring list.

With Wagner’s official addition, Kentucky locks up the No. 1 recruiting class in the 2023 team rankings. Assuming no major changes going into the spring, it will be the first time the Wildcats finish atop the rankings since 2020. The Wildcats entered the day ranked either first or second overall by every major service.

Kentucky already built a strong class loaded with game-changing talent in both the backcourt and frontcourt. Now, the program signs its ultimate prize, Calipari’s top recruiting target from day one and a player with real star potential to lead the charge in 2023-24.

Calipari got his guy.