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WATCH: No. 1 recruit DJ Wagner crosses up Bronny James

PeterWarrenPhoto2by:Peter Warren•01/30/22•

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(Photo courtesy of John Jones | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Camden (N.J.) five-star guard DJ Wagner had one of the top highlights of the high school basketball season Saturday night against Chatsworth (Calif.) Sierra Canyon, at GEICO ESPN High School Basketball Showcase in Allentown, Pa.

Up four points in the fourth quarter, Wagner caught the ball of a dribble handoff running towards the middle of the floor. He found himself isolated against four-star guard Bronny James.

Wagner attacked. He dribbled hard to his left and then cross the ball behind his back to his right. The move sent James stumbling to the floor as Wagner dribble to right inside the free throw line and put up a good short jumper.

The move sent the crowd into a frenzy.

“These are the best type of atmospheres,” Wagner told the Courier-Post. “These are the atmospheres we live for.”

Wagner finished with 21 points as Camden High won the game 66-62.

He is the No. 1 player in the 2023 cycle, according to the On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. Wagner also has an On3 NIL Valuation of $66,000. The NIL valuation does not act as a tracker of the value of NIL deals an athlete has completed to date. It rather signifies an athlete’s value at a certain moment in time. That is the 14th-highest NIL Valuation among high school players.

James is also a highly-regard basketball recruit. He ranks No. 42 overall in the 2023 On3 Consensus and No. 1 in the On3 NIL 100 with an On3 NIL Valuation of $5.1 million.

The Wagner and James families have known each other for a long time. Dajuan Wagner was drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers with the sixth pick in the 2002 NBA Draft, one year before LeBron James was selected first overall by the franchise.

Wagner had elite NBA potential but due to injuries and ulcerative colitis, he played only four seasons before retiring. For some around the Cavs, he is the biggest what-if during James’ first go-round with the franchise.

While they never reached their potential as teammates, the two have remained friends off the court.

“One of the most talented teammates I’ve ever had in my life!” James posted on Instagram last year. “Damn good seeing my G today!”