J." The Newark native and Weequahic High graduate earned the nickname as "The Destroyer" for his defensive talents while with the Philadelphia/San Francisco Warriors. Players listed for each high school attended; Active players in bold; * Indicates Hall of Famer; Includes stats from NBA and ABA. and the Wagner basketball legacy before he starts his climb up the basketball pyramid. If you have or know of an interesting story to tell, reach out on Twitter at @JFriedman57 or via email at jfriedman2@gannettnj.com. Monday's hearing that could have had consequences for Camden High School's boys' basketball team was delayed at least two weeks after a judge issued a temporary restraining order on Friday regarding Camden's appearance before the NJSIAA's controversy committee. "To see everybody in those shirts walking around out here, that means a lot to me," he tells the audience. Still, if we included players who came to the state for college, it wouldn't really be a New Jersey list. Still, he won a championship with the Boston Celtics in 1981, and is credited for hitting the first 3-point shot in NBA history. [19], Wagner has been a resident of West Deptford Township, New Jersey.[20]. worked out under his father's tutelage, learning some of the game's subtleties, and becoming a standout wherever he played. Its why he recently submitted his resignation as Camden High Schools boys basketball coach. "There is no better feeling in the world.". Mar 4, 2021, 11:30am. They always had each others backs something Muggsy didnt get elsewhere on the court because of his size. Wagner attended Camden High School, where he played with the varsity team freshman year. In a stunning turnaround, the same crowd that had been laughing at his size just hours before was now chanting his name. The Hudson Catholic graduate went from one of the finest college teams at North Carolina to some woeful NBA teams in his home state, playing for the Nets from 1980-86. Dajuan Wagner may arguably be the greatest high school player in New Jersey history. D.J. Noticing that players would start to falter defensively in the second half, he would have his players hold bricks while doing their workouts and sprints. The chemistry the team had was built years prior. The team was undefeated in his sophomore year, but the state championship tournament was again cancelled due to the pandemic. According to certain teammates, they said Muggsy was freezing them out in games. "But it gives people here a sense of hope and pride that D.J. Wagner is considered a five-star recruit by 247Sports, ESPN and Rivals . He attacks the offensive end and is a versatile scorer, but he is equally as tough on defense. "I got drafted but winning the state championship for my city, that was the best," Dajuan told SLAM Magazine in 2020. there was Dajuan, and before Dajuan, there was Milt. He moved back to Camden, reconnected with The High and began training his son in the family business. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. D.J. He still has a teenager's slim build, and what sets him apart is not necessarily his size or athleticism, recruiters say, but his savvy understanding of how to set the pace of a game. 12 in the 1987 Draft and is the shortest player ever to play in the NBA. Always ridiculed and looked over, he found that the sport could earn him the currency of the land: respect. [2] For his senior year he debuted on December 15 scoring 36 points against Eastern, followed by a 50-points performance against Bishop Eustace. 6 pick in the 2002 NBA draft, but injury and illness derailed his career. He won a state title in 1979. But we gave it a shot with the top baseball players in New Jersey history, so we'll do our best again. There will be no more rumors, is he leaving next year. DJ Wagner the No. Louisville Basketball - Big Board Class of 2024 He underwent surgery to have a portion of his colon removed, and by 2006 he was out of the league. Theyre like coach, we need you, but were happy for you. Jimmy Butler and Tom Thibodeau remain linked. Verga went from St. Rose High School in Belmar to Duke, where he set a scoring record, to the ABA in 1967. The 5-foot-10 guard was lightly recruited out of Seton Hall Prep, but he went onto have an outstanding career at Stanford before becoming a reliable ball handler in the NBA who averaged 7.3 points and 6.1 assists a game during a 13-year career. No more rumors until I decide to say, hey, Im leaving. Wagner has said he plans to attend college before going pro. He wants to be a head college basketball coach. So, on the fly, he did a 360-degree turn and threw an alley-oop pass behind his neck. Remembering Dunbar's Magical 82-83 Teams - Grassroots Hoops to drum up support. In these cases, the average was taken. Camden's Cornelius Robinson puts up a shot during the 4th quarter of the boys basketball game between Lenape and Camden played at Camden High School on Tuesday, January 4, 2022. 50 years young and a family man, Tyrone Muggsy Bogues stepped into the 50th-floor lounge unassumingly. He was drafted 6th overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2002 NBA draft. could potentially make it.". [11] On November 14, 2022, Wagner committed to the University of Kentucky, deciding over Louisville. Dajuan Wagner scored a state-record, 3,462 points in his Camden career. "I wouldn't have thought it would [have] ever been a doubt," says Wasim Muhammad, who heads the school advisory board. ", Flashback: Bronny dropped to floor by top 2023 prospect D.J. Brunson, a nine-year NBA veteran who served as an assistant with the Denver Nuggets, Chicago Bulls, Charlotte Bobcats and Minnesota Timberwolves before joining the Panthers, is the reigning South Jersey Coach of the Year. No one knows your passion or heart like you do.. Do you have a sports website? He basically shoots like me, maybe hes built like me but he plays like his dad because he attacks that basket, either hand.. ", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Dajuan_Wagner_Jr.&oldid=1151730067. NBA writer + video department at ClutchPoints | Follow me on Twitter @CalFongNBA. He isn't a star, but he has proven himself to be a valuable bench player on eight teams. There is no bigger name in this hoops loving city, where over the decades "Wagner" has become synonymous with championships. I love the game today, he said. 2. I love the spirit hell bring to practice every day, and I love that he wanted to be at Kentucky. For Milt Wagner, the feeling was familiar. Brunson will replace Vic Carstarphen, his former teammate at Temple. 's name. At 17, D.J. The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame's Hoophall Classic annually features the top high school players and teams from around the country. The 7-foot-1 star also ranks third all-time in field goal percentage (58.2). At 17, D.J. A motorcycle accident after his rookie season ended what could have been a brilliant NBA career. High School Basketball Players Who Had 100-Point Games Tony Adame Scoring 100 points in a basketball game is an amazing feat for any player. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. [8][9], Wagner considered offers from Connecticut, Kentucky, Louisville, Memphis and Miami (FL),[10] and signed with Memphis in June 2000. Former Villanova star Maalik Wayns expected to be coach of Camden The Jersey City native became a college star at Duke, leading the Blue Devils to back-to-back NCAA titles as their floor general. Allegations of cheating are not unusual in high school sports, even if they are infrequently upheld. Ranking: 247Sports - No. Camden defeated Lenape, 76-64. A report by New Jersey Advance Media alleged that Camden violated state rules by recruiting the out-of-district players and offering them low-cost tuition deals unavailable to other students. He played one year of college basketball at the University of Memphis. I learned from the master, (former Temple coach) John Chaney, he was my mentor, he was my father. Milt Wagner, a legendary Camden High basketball player who won an NCAA title at Louisville and an NBA title with the Los Angeles Lakers, watched his son Dajuan Wagner take the court for the Panthers as a freshman in the late 1990s. Wright was arguably the greatest athlete Newark has ever produced. Camden closed last season on a 25-game winning streak, was named the South Jersey Team of the Year and finished No. They knew each others games well. 1-ranked recruit Wagner chooses Kentucky", "Can this 14-year-old phenom become the first third-generation NBA player? In the 1981-82 season, their biggest game came against the Camden High Panthers, the number-one ranked high school team in the nation. He was the No. During the summer heading into his freshman season at Camden, Wagner was one of just three Class of 2023 prospects invited to the USA Basketball July mini camp in Colorado Springs. Josh Friedman has produced award-winning South Jersey sports coverage for the Courier Post and The Daily Journal for more than a decade. That's when not even he could take another game . Camden earned New Jersey Boys Basketball Team of the Year honors by NJ.com.[8]. [12] He contributed with 16 points in the title game against South Carolina and at the end of the season he earned several NIT and conference honors, including the MVP award of the 2002 NIT. They were ranked the top high school team in the nation throughout the season, and they won the state title again Dunbars sixth title in eight years. If D.J., ranked by ESPN as the No. West, a Teaneck native, has turned down millions in pursuit of the one thing he has lacked in his career: A championship ring. Between games, he laughs with his teammates, peeks in on the competition and cheers on Scholars squads playing in younger age divisions. But fans watching will recognize some of the top lineups in the nation, playing under team names inspired by their high schools. Youve lived your life. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. "Through three generations, they have all reached mountaintops that have pushed this city forward. Wagner at the start of his high school career are similar to the excitement in the city when Dajuan Wagner took the court for the Panthers in the fall of 1997. "Kentucky-bound DJ Wagnercontinued his outstanding spring with two strong days of practice at Iverson Classic," wrote ESPN's Jonathan Givony on Twitter. He finished his career at Camden as New Jersey . "But to see a kid like that doing something for himself and doing something for the community is a great thing. He averaged 8.2 points and 3.4 rebounds a game as pro. Although D.J. Modify, Export & Share Table. 3 in the nation at the Seagull Classic at Holy Spirit. 5 min read. High School: Camden High School. The team brought in top players from five counties outside Camden to help him, including 7-foot center Aaron Bradshaw, who recently committed to Kentucky. The River Dell High graduatestarted his long career in the ABA in 1970 with the New York Americans and finished it in 1985 with the Utah Jazz. "I take a lot of pride in playing for Camden," he says. He didnt realize he was walking into a surprise birthday party, with a crowd of anxious family and friends around the corner. Melchionni, who starred at Bishop Eustace Prep in Pennsauken, was a reserve on the 1967 NBA champion 76ers before moving to the ABA, where he played seven years for the Nets. Bibby, who was born in Cherry Hill before moving to California as a child, played in 1,001 NBA games and averaged 14.7 points. The Newark native has emerged as strong rebounding forward during the first six years of his career, averaging 11.9 points and 8.5 rebounds a game. Ranking them is, of course, virtually impossible. They retired his No.. His undying dedication to his players paid off. Well, these have been two ridiculous seasons for the Piscataway native and St. Joseph's (Metuchen) star. It was just as big when Juannie came in, Milt Wagner said. CAMDEN, WHICH SITS on nine square miles just across the Delaware River from Philadelphia, was once renowned as a manufacturing hub, churning out products from Navy vessels and RCA Victor phonographs to Campbell's soup. The Panthers had not won a state championship since Dajuan led them to the crown in 2000. The Cavaliers did not exercise their option on his contract for the 200506 season and subsequently Wagner was out of the league. He converted 42 of his 61 field goals (with 10 3-pointers) and 6 free throws: he scored 25 points in the first quarter, 21 in the second, 26 in the third and 28 in the fourth. He felt it was the right time to start pursuing those aims. He is the son of a former professional basketball player Dajuan Wagner and grandson of professional player "Ice Man" Milt Wagner.He is a consensus five-star recruit and one of the top players in the 2023 recruiting class.