DJ Wagner plans to enter NCAA transfer portal

On3 imageby:Kaiden Smith•04/15/24•

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Kentucky guard DJ Wagner plans to enter the NCAA transfer portal after one season with the Wildcats following the departure of head coach John Calipari to Arkansas, per Travis Branham.

Wagner was one of the most sought-after high school recruits last year, making major noise on the AAU circuit before leading Cameron to a state championship in 2022 and being named the Gatorade Player of the Year in New Jersey. He chose to take his talents to Lexington following his standout prep career, but will now look for a new program to call home ahead of the 2024-2025 season.

In his true freshman season for the Wildcats, Wagner was named to the All-SEC Freshman Team and earned SEC Freshman of the Week honors three times. Starting in 28 of his 29 game appearances where he averaged 9.9 points, 3.3 assists, and 1.9 rebounds per game.

Wager was a talented and effective scoring and playmaking option for Kentucky as a true freshman, scoring in double-figures 13 times and reaching three or more assists in 20 games last year. Highlighted by his first career double-double against Georgia where he scored 18 points with 10 assists and his career-high 28 points in a win versus Marshall.

Wagner played high school hoops at Camden High School (NJ), where he was a five-star prospect. He was the No. 7 overall recruit in the 2023 cycle and the No. 1 ranked combo guard in the nation, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

Several mock draft boards have Wagner tabbed as a selection for the 2024 NBA Draft this year, with the 6-foot-3 guard having basketball in his DNA as the son of former Memphis star and NBA player Dajuan Wagner and the grandson of Louisville legend and NBA player “Ice Man” Milt Wagner.

He missed some time last season after suffering an ankle injury, but Wagner still enters the upcoming college basketball season with one of the highest ceilings of any guard in the country. Making him an extremely attractive player out of the transfer portal for many programs around the country ahead of the 2024-2025 season.