With newly minted Louisville assistant Nolan Smith and John Calipari seated courtside on Saturday, NJ Scholars Class of 2023 guard DJ Wagner scored 18 points, doled out four assists, and added four rebounds to propel his team to a 67-55 victory over BABC.
Throughout the first half, Wagner’s high level distributing and ability to quarterback a team was evident. He routinely fed the post, fired in 3/4 court assists, and lobbed up passes for highly coveted teammate Aaron Bradshaw as he soared above the rim.
After getting everyone involved during a first half in which NJ built a 20-point lead, Wagner called his own number.
With a corner jumper, a crafty knifing layup through traffic, and a dazzling lefty layup right into the teeth of the defense as NJ sustained a 53-39 lead at the culmination of the third quarter, the poised guard’s advanced offensive skill set was evident.
Wagner, who speaks to his father, former Camden High and Memphis star and one time NBA player DaJuan Wagner before nearly every game, is cognizant of the torch he’s carrying proudly as a legacy at Camden. He knows all about his father’s torrid scoring pace, about the memorable 100-point single game performance in a trouncing of Gloucester Township Technical School 21 years ago.
At the same time, DJ Wagner is laser focused on creating his own path and sustaining the winning culture at Camden under former NBA guard Rick Brunson.
“I would say I want to leave my mark as a winner, as another state champion,” DJ Wagner said.
“We want to win a championship and win it for the city,, you know? We we want to go out as a great group, to be remembered as winners.”
Wagner cited Kentucky as the school he’s been in contact with the most. He’s got tremendous family ties with the aforementioned Calipari. While at Memphis, Calipari coached Dajuan Wagner during his lone collegiate season back in 2001-2002.
Wagner averaged 21 points and 3.6 assists as a transcendent freshman talent. Calipari was instrumental in propelling Wagner’s decision to enter the 2002 NBA draft, where he was selected by the Cleveland Cavs with the No.6 overall pick.
