DJ Wagner schedules first visit to USC -- not Arkansas

Is DJ Wagner a guarantee to land in Fayetteville with John Calipari? Considering he’s taking his first visit in the transfer portal elsewhere, it’s probably safe to assume the former Kentucky guard is relatively open to all options.

According to Adam Zagoria of ZAGSBLOG.com, Wagner is planning to visit the USC Trojans starting Friday.

“Transferring (Kentucky guard) DJ Wagner is visiting (USC) today, per source,” Zagoria posted on Twitter.

It’s the first known visit for Wagner since entering the portal on April 15, a move that came following Coach Cal’s departure to Arkansas.

Zvonimir Ivisic is the only transfer to follow Calipari thus far while Aaron Bradshaw (Ohio State) and Joey Hart (Ball State) have committed elsewhere. Wagner, Adou Thiero and Jordan Burks all remain available in the portal. As for high school recruits, Boogie Fland, Karter Knox and Billy Richmond have all flipped to Arkansas while Jayden Quaintance has cut the Razorbacks from his list and Somto Cyril is exploring his other options, as well. Travis Perry has decided to stay back in Lexington to play for Mark Pope at Kentucky.

Wagner, a former top-five recruit in the 2023 class, averaged 9.9 points and 3.3 assists per game on 40.5% shooting and 29.2% from three in an up-and-down season with the Wildcats. Dealing with a lingering ankle injury all year, the former five-star prospect never broke through as the lottery pick he was projected to be when he signed with Kentucky.

Now, he’s exploring his other options in hopes of finding the right fit for his next stop before taking his talents to the NBA. And it’s not a certainty that’ll be in Fayetteville with Coach Cal.