DJ Wagner takes from Ja Morant and Dame Lillard; latest in recruitment

DJ Wagner is the No. 1 ranked player in the 2023 On3 Consensus. He has been talked about among the top-ranked players in his class since he entered high school.

“I just like to win,” Wagner told On3. “Anything it takes to help my team win, nothing specific, but that’s my mindset. I watch a lot of Ja Morant and Damian Lillard. Ja is so good at attacking and getting downhill. Dame can attack at shoot. I love CP3 (Chris Paul) in the pick and roll.”

The son of New Jersey High School legend Dajuan Wagner, Sr., there has been a lot of talk about his recruitment. On3 caught up with DJ Wagner at the Southern Jam Fest to see where things currently stood.

“I’ve taken two official visits, Kentucky and Memphis,” Wagner said. “I went on unofficials to Temple and Villanova (old staff) too.”

Wagner talks recruitment

Kentucky: “The atmosphere is crazy there like they really love basketball. I went to Big Blue Madness, and it was crazy. It’s like Camden; it’s a basketball town out there. Their fans just love basketball.”

Memphis: “They like to play fast. The way Coach Penny (Hardaway) coaches, they will get up and down the floor and play an upbeat offense. Their fans love basketball there too; it was a great atmosphere.”

“I don’t have any more visits scheduled right now,” Wagner said. “But I definitely plan on taking more. I talk a lot to Michigan and Temple.”

Michigan: “Coach Juwan (Howard) talks a lot about keeping going hard, and he helps me a lot with my game. Little things.”

Temple: “Coach (Aaron) McKie talks with me a lot. He tells me to keep working and keep going.”

“Coach Kenny (Payne) is definitely family at Louisville,” Wagner said. “We’ve talked, but it’s more like small talk, keep working hard and stuff like that.”

G-League and Overtime Elite conversations

“I haven’t had any conversations with G-League or Overtime Elite,” Wagner said. “I am not saying I wouldn’t listen to them if they called, but right now, I am looking at going to college. To be honest, they aren’t even crossing my mind right now.”

Wagner’s take

“I want to go to a great school with a great atmosphere and environment,” Wagner said. “A school that will push me, and I can keep getting better at. I want to go somewhere that feels like home. Most importantly, I want to go somewhere I can win; that is the biggest thing with me.”