DJ Wagner recruitment update: Michigan in the mix?

On3 imageby:Zack Geoghegan05/16/22

ZGeogheganKSR

Heading into the final summer of his high school career, the noise surrounding DJ Wagner’s recruitment is only going to grow louder and louder.

A five-star class of 2023 combo guard considered to be one of the top three prospects in the country, Wagner has long been linked to Kentucky and head coach John Calipari. The tides have shifted a bit over the last few months with Kenny Payne in charge now at Louisville. Ever since Payne was hired as head coach at UL, it’s felt like a two-horse race between the two in-state rivals. But could any new challengers pop up?

According to On3’s Jamie Shaw, one fresh program might be working its way into the mix for Wagner. Shaw caught up with the elite prospect over the weekend at the Southern Jam Fest to get an update on his recruitment. Wagner talked about Kentucky, Louisville, and Memphis — the latter of which has been recruiting him for a significant amount of time, too — along with Temple and Michigan.

The Wolverines and head coach Juwan Howard are the newest names on the block.

Wagner told Shaw that while he doesn’t have any official visits locked in right now, he does plan on taking more. The Camden, NJ product mentioned Michigan and Temple as schools he talks to frequently in addition to Kentucky, Louisville, and Memphis.

“I don’t have any more visits scheduled right now,” Wagner said. “But I definitely plan on taking more. I talk a lot to Michigan and Temple.”

Michigan: “Coach Juwan (Howard) talks a lot about keeping going hard, and he helps me a lot with my game. Little things.”

On3

Wagner is rather tight-lipped when it comes to giving out hints as to which way he might be leaning. He doesn’t tend to over-hype or downplay any of his supposed top schools. That being said, Wagner did have an interesting line in his conversation with Shaw, saying that Lexington reminded him of his home in Camden.

Kentucky: “The atmosphere is crazy there like they really love basketball. I went to Big Blue Madness, and it was crazy. It’s like Camden; it’s a basketball town out there. Their fans just love basketball.”

On3

So far in his recruitment, Wagner has taken just two official visits to Kentucky and Memphis, both happening in October 2021. He also took unofficials to Temple and Villanova prior to Jay Wright’s departure as the Wildcats’ head coach. No offer from Louisville has been publicized either, but that will surely come if it hasn’t already behind closed doors. Wagner told Shaw that his conversations with UL right now are “more like small talk”, but he did add that Payne is “definitely family”.

It’s gonna be a long summer for this recruitment.

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