DJ Wagner to announce next week, Kentucky the favorite

A decision is coming for five-star guard DJ Wagner, Kentucky‘s top target in the class of 2023.

And it’s one that is almost certain to favor the Wildcats, giving John Calipari a superclass of five top-30 signees, including four in the top 10.

247Sports’ Travis Branham is reporting that Wagner, a consensus top-five prospect in the senior class, will make his decision public as early as Monday. In the same report, Branham — who holds a 94.05% all-time hit rate on picks — updated his confidence level to 10, a lock to Kentucky.

“When the announcement comes, it is expected that Wagner will officially be named a Kentucky Wildcat, capping off the 2023 recruiting class for John Calipari, giving him the No. 1 class in the country,” Branham wrote.

Three UK pledges signed with the program to open the early signing period in five-star wing Justin Edwards, five-star guard Rob Dillingham and four-star guard Reed Sheppard. The fourth, five-star center Aaron Bradshaw, is expected to sign with Wagner at Camden High School next week to give Kentucky five signees to round out the early period and the class overall.

With Wagner’s official addition, UK will finish with the No. 1 recruiting class in 2023.

John Calipari said Thursday the Kentucky basketball program would make an official announcement on the class once all signatures were in by the end of the signing period.

“We will not announce who has signed until they have their own announcement. We want them to have their moment!” Calipari wrote on Twitter. “We will put out an announcement once we have everyone signed.”

That’s expected to come Monday when Wagner and Bradshaw both make it official with the Wildcats.

For Wagner, the announcement serves as the perfect lead-up to the Champions Classic, college basketball’s premier early-season event where Kentucky will be playing on the sport’s biggest and brightest stage. With Wagner being Nike’s newest star athlete, it’s a perfect PR opportunity for both sides, giving the mega shoe and apparel brand an opportunity to bring out all of the bells and whistles to promote the five-star recruit on the big stage.

As for Kentucky, Calipari and his staff get the prized target atop their wishlist from day one.