John Calipari sends (ANOTHER) clear message to DJ Wagner using Drake, NOCTA

Kentucky head coach John Calipari is going for the kill in the recruitment of prized guard target DJ Wagner. He’s not even trying to hide it at this point.

It started at Big Blue Madness, hosting Wagner’s entire Camden High School basketball team on a visit and sitting the five-star guard, his father Dajuan Sr., and all of his teammates in the front row at Rupp Arena — right next to the former UK stars in attendance and directly in front of television cameras. He landed a commitment from Wagner’s high school and grassroots teammate, Aaron Bradshaw, just 30 minutes before the event started. Certainly no coincidence.

Also no coincidence? The money balls in the 3-point contest were NOCTA brand, Drake’s sub-label with Nike who recently became NIL partners with Wagner. The SEC Network crew made sure to point that out on the live broadcast and over the loudspeakers at Rupp Arena with the prized recruit in the stands.

Just one week later, the “coincidences” continue to pile up — this time with Coach Cal showing off the new NOCTA ball he got for his office from his best bud Drake. That’s going next to his other Kentucky-inspired OVO Jordan sneakers he got from the four-time Grammy winner.

“Got a new ball for the office and going to put it next to my Calipari Pack shoes!!” the UK head coach wrote on Twitter. “My good friend (Drake) impacting basketball at all levels. Anything he touches turns to gold!!”

Got a new ball for the office and going to put it next to my Calipari Pack shoes!!

My good friend @Drake impacting basketball at all levels. Anything he touches turns to gold!! pic.twitter.com/4gQ1MwwSVR

— John Calipari (@UKCoachCalipari) October 21, 2022

This comes after Calipari teased a potential commitment from the five-star guard at the Greater Louisville UK Alumni Club Hosts Basketball Tipoff Luncheon on Thursday. When speaking to event attendees, the Kentucky head coach acknowledged he may be signing another son of one of his former players.

He’s got two on the roster in Adou Thiero (son of former Memphis center Almamy Thiero) and Kareem Watkins (stepson of former Memphis guard Dajuan Wagner Sr.) as is. Now, he’s pushing to make Wagner the third.

“I may get another kid where I coached his dad,” Calipari said, via Dominique Yates of WLKY. “Now all of a sudden you’re like, ‘I’m coaching kids (of my old players).’”

“Uh oh! Breaking news!” event moderator Kent Taylor of WAVE3 responded.

“No, no, no. Oh, media is here? Great, great. That’s just great,” Calipari joked. “Because I’ve said some things I wish I grabbed back a couple of times this last year, so…”

John Calipari hints that he might get "another kid where I coached his dad." pic.twitter.com/PgeJACTbTn

— Dominique Yates (@RealDYates) October 20, 2022

Need more pro-UK buzz for the 6-foot-3 guard? Look no further than Ryan “Scoop” Lemond’s comments this morning on KSR.

“We’ve all heard it, the scuttlebutt is that he’s already committed,” he said in the second hour of the show. “They’re just waiting to make the big announcement, spreading out his announcement with Aaron Bradshaw, just to spread it out a little bit. … I’m serious. I think he’s already committed, they’re just waiting to spread the announcements out a little bit, him and Bradshaw.”

Wagner first partnered with NOCTA before signing with Nike earlier this month, announcing he would be repping the brand “in Camden and beyond.”

“I’ve seen the impact this game — and the people who play it — can have on the community, and I’m looking forward to taking it to the next level with Nike in Camden and beyond,” Wagner said in a statement.

The five-star guard then signed with WME Sports for NIL representation, knocking out another pre-college decision before going public with a commitment.

The NCAA early signing period runs from Nov. 9-16, when Kentucky commits Justin Edwards, Rob Dillingham, Aaron Bradshaw and Reed Sheppard are all expected to put pen to paper and officially join the UK program.

It’s clear Calipari is doing whatever it takes to ensure Wagner becomes the fifth signature.