Cason Wallace, D.J. Wagner named finalists for Naismith Player of the Year

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On3 image — Photo of Cason Wallace (left) by UK Athletics - Photo of D.J. Wagner by Dan Fritz

Two important Kentucky recruits are up for the honor of the nation’s top high school basketball player, and one of them is already committed to the Wildcats.

Cason Wallace, a 5-star class of 2022 combo guard who signed with Kentucky back in November, was named one of 10 semifinalists for the 2022 Naismith High School Boys Player of the Year on Thursday afternoon. Joining him is another recruit of significant Kentucky interest, 5-star class of 2023 combo guard D.J. Wagner, who is considered the top junior in the country and uncommitted. However, he holds strong connections to UK and head coach John Calipari with the current expectation that he ultimately picks the ‘Cats.

Wagner is the only junior named a semifinalist, with the rest being seniors.

🚨Our 2022 @jerseymikes Naismith Boys’ High School Player of the Year Semifinalists have been released‼️

These 🔟 players are still in the hunt for the prestigious Naismith Trophy❗️

Click the link below for more information ❗️https://t.co/grwhz0QnLc pic.twitter.com/GC6bTfjwYY
— The Naismith Trophy (@NaismithTrophy) February 3, 2022

Wallace, who committed to Kentucky just days before signing his National Letter of Intent, has already been named to the 2022 McDonald’s All-American Game and Iverson Classic. The native of Richardson, TX averaged 15.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 1.4 blocks, and 1.3 steals during the 2021 AAU circuit, shooting 51.2 percent from the floor and 37.0 percent from distance. Wallace is ranked as the No. 7 overall player from the class of 2022, per the On3 Consensus.

“Cason is a winner and a competitor who reminds me of Eric Bledsoe and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander,” John Calipari said at the time of Wallace’s signing. “I don’t like to make a lot of comparisons like that, but he has a quiet demeanor with a game that speaks loudly. He can shoot it and create for his teammates, but what really separates him is his defense. He is already an elite on-ball defender who takes a lot of pride in that part of the game.”

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As for Wagner, he’s the son of Dajuan Wagner, who played under Calipari during his coaching days at Memphis. The younger Wagner has long been considered a lock to Kentucky and is actually stepbrothers with current Wildcat walk-on Kareem Watkins. Villanova, Memphis, and LSU are other schools that have been mentioned in what has been a relatively quiet recruitment.

2022 Naismith Trophy Boys Players of the Year semifinalists

Amari Bailey (UCLA)
Cason Wallace (Kentucky)
D.J. Wagner (undecided)
Dariq Whitehead (Duke)
Dereck Lively II (Duke)
Dillon Mitchell (Texas)
Gradey Dick (Kansas)
Keyonte George (Baylor)
Kyle Filipowski (Duke)
Nick Smith Jr. (Arkansas)