DJ Wagner named one of CBB's most important figures for the next 20 years

There’s pressure that comes with being a top-five recruit, certainly one going to Kentucky. The same can be said about being the first third-generation McDonald’s All-American in history — DJ Wagner‘s dad and grandpa also played in the prestigious event, Dajuan Sr. and Milt.

How about being named one of college basketball’s most important figures for the next two decades? Now that’s pressure, and it’s officially on his shoulders before he even sets foot on campus as John Calipari’s next prized recruit in Lexington.

And that’s not a 40 under 40 list, one with a bigger sample size and age restrictions. No, Wagner has been named one of The Athletic’s top 20 figures set to shape college basketball over the next 20 years — the future of the sport entirely.

Rich Paul, Klutch Sports agent and LeBron James’ right-hand man. Greg Sankey, SEC commissioner. Dan Porter, Overtime Elite CEO. Charlie Baker, NCAA president. Some of the sport’s heaviest hitters.

Then right there at the bottom of the list, No. 20 overall: DJ Wagner, Kentucky recruit.

“How, you might wonder, could a player who is going to stay in college for one season impact the next 20 years? Easy,” The Athletic’s Dana O’Neil writes. “Wagner will be the first big college basketball profit maker in the age of NIL (presuming Bronny James doesn’t go to college). The sport has had its share of early success stories — Oscar Tshiebwe has done quite nicely for himself — but NIL started when college hoops lacked a high-profile recruit to capture the market.

“Enter Wagner, the nation’s top-ranked player, son of DaJuan, grandson of Milt, going to the fishbowl of Lexington with a Nike deal already in place. He won’t necessarily set the market value for the next 20 years, but he will show the way.”

The good news? Wagner has dealt with pressure his entire basketball career as a blue-chip recruit since grade school. He’s seen what it takes to be successful learning from his dad and grandpa, two former stars in their own right. And he’s been around the Kentucky program since he was a kid, attending camps and practices over the years when his dad was in town visiting his former coach.

He’s embracing it all, setting championship expectations for himself and his teammates when he arrives in Lexington.

“Really, it’s just about being as successful as possible, taking it game by game and winning as much as possible,” the future Wildcat told KSR. “Our end goal is most definitely winning an NCAA championship. That’s the goal, for sure, but it starts with working. We all need to be working from day one, staying in the gym. We’re definitely looking forward to that.”

Wagner is coming in with a winning mindset and pedigree, his family considered basketball royalty.

The pressure, though, is undeniable.