D.J. Wagner, the No. 1 player in the 2023 recruiting class, has a lot of ties to UK coach John Calipari. (Twitter Photo)
Matt Babcock, senior NBA Draft analyst for Basketball News, calls UK recruiting target D.J. Wagner of New Jersey, the No. 1 player in the 2023 recruiting class, a “natural scorer” who just knows how to make shots.
“I see him more as a secondary ball-handler than a lead guard, and he’s thin. He needs to add weight and functional strength. In addition, from my understanding, his outside shooting has been very inconsistent this season,” Babcock said.
“Considering his style of play, he needs to become a more consistent outside shooter to maximize his potential. I think Wagner has a chance to develop into a legitimate scoring combo guard, but like all young prospects, he still needs to get better.”
“I mean, he hasn’t even turned 17-years-old yet. Nevertheless, I’m excited to continue tracking his development.”
His father, Dajuan Wagner, played for John Calipari at Memphis. So did his grandfather, Milt Wagner. His older brother, Kareem Watkins, is a walk-on guard at Kentucky now under Calipari.
“It’s regularly discussed among basketball circles that Wagner will likely end up at Kentucky,” Babcock said. “Considering Calipari’s long-standing relationship with his father and grandfather, Dajuan and Milt Wagner, I’d say that it’s a significant advantage.”
The 6-2 junior guard has a lot of attention on him. Babcock says it’s impossible for any 16-year-old to live up to the hype he’s had put on him.
“I think Wagner is a very good player and prospect, but I don’t think the expectations that have been set for him are justifiable or fair,” Babcock said. “The expectations are just unreal for a kid who is still a junior in high school.”
