Adam Zagoria covers basketball at all levels. He is the author of two books and an award-winning journalist whose articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Sports Illustrated, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide.
Camden’s D.J. Wagner is No. 1 in 247Sports Class of 2023 rankings; five Jersey guys in Top 50
By JACOB POLACHECK
The 247Sports Class of 2023 rankings were released on Wednesday with Camden (NJ) High School’s Dajuan Wagner Jr. featured at the No. 1 spot.
Wagner, who was also ranked No. 1 in ESPN’s Class of 2023 rankings earlier this year, comes from a family with a long history in South Jersey basketball.
His father Dajuan Wagner rewrote the New Jersey high school record book by scoring nearly 3,500 points at Camden before spending a one-and-done year at Memphis and ultimately becoming the No. 6 pick in the 2002 NBA Draft.
His grandfather Milt Wagner was a McDonald’s All-American at Camden High School in 1981 and went on to win a state title at Camden (1982), an NCAA title with Louisville (1986) and an NBA title with the Lakers (1988).
The rankings include four other players from New Jersey in the Top 50: Roselle Catholic guard Simeon Welcher at No. 7, Gill St. Bernard’s forward Mackenzie Mgbako at No. 13, Don Bosco Prep forward Akil Watson at No. 35 and Roselle Catholic center Aaron Bradshaw at No. 44.
As for Wagner, who has a 6-foot-10 wingspan and wears size 14 shoes, he is coached at Camden by Rick Brunson, the former NBA guard whose son Jalen Brunson of the Dallas Mavericks is now one of eight Villanova players in the pros.
Wagner, Welcher, Mgbako and Bradshaw have all been invited to the Wootten Top 150 Camp later this month.
Class of 2023 guys DJ Wagner, Mackenzie Mgbako and Aaron Bradshaw of the NJ Scholars were all invited to the Wootten Top 150 Camp.
