John Calipari, Kentucky staff in New Jersey to see 5-star DJ Wagner

Kentucky’s recruitment with five-star class of 2023 combo guard Dajuan Wagner Jr. could reach a tipping point very soon.

On Sunday afternoon, it was first reported by Pro Insight’s Andrew Slater that the Kentucky staff is up in New Jersey to watch Wagner and his Camden High School team take on Roselle Catholic up at Rutgers University in the Tournament of Champions. Not long after that, The Athletic’s Kyle Tucker was able to confirm that John Calipari and the entire Kentucky coaching staff are in to watch Wagner.

Kentucky, Rutgers, Syracuse, DePaul, Iona, St. Joe’s among the programs for @rc_basketball vs @YouGotTheHigh pic.twitter.com/pgtqwid5da

— 𝒜𝓃𝒹𝓇ℯ𝓌 𝒮𝓁𝒶𝓉ℯ𝓇 (@Andrew__Slater) March 20, 2022

Wagner has been considered one of the top three prospects from the junior class for a couple of years now, and has been considered a Kentucky-lean for even longer. The connection between Wagner’s father, Dajuan Wagner, who was an NBA lottery pick under Calipari at Memphis, has made it feel like a foregone conclusion that his son would play for the same college coach.

Calipari and his staff have made multiple visits to check in on Wagner over the last several months, as well. One of Wagner’s current teammates at Camden, 7-foot center Aaron Bradshaw, is also a highly coveted prospect from the class of 2023 receiving significant Kentucky interest. Bradshaw is ranked as the No. 21 overall player in his class, according to the On3 Consensus.

But here’s why the recruitment could reach a tipping point. Former Kentucky assistant coach, Kenny Payne, is now the head coach at Louisville. Payne, like Calipari, shares a special connection with the Wagner family, as he played alongside Wagner’s grandfather, Milt Wagner, on Louisville’s 1986 national title squad. Travis Branham of 247Sports recently told the Herald-Leader that Milt Wagner could be in line to take a position on Payne’s staff at UL, although nothing is official on that front just yet.

There are a lot of moving parts here. Kentucky and Coach Calipari have held the advantage with Wagner for a long time, but Payne coming into the fold will surely make for some new conversations within the Wagner family. Perhaps Cal recognizes that and is getting ahead of that potential issue before it can become one.

After the way the 2021-22 season ended, Kentucky fans can only hope.