Steve Politi may be reached atspoliti@njadvancemedia.com. Attles is still an ambassador for the Golden State franchise. [3] He was invited back to a second USA Basketball event several months later, before the start of the high school basketball season in New Jersey. Even Camden star Billy Thompson was laughing along. was the same.. Why DJ Wagner, college basketball's No. 1 recruit in high school class Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. Leaving the Panthers felt more like a nightmare. Im like really? Notes: Knox is the brother of former UK and current NBA player Kevin Knox; . Ford, who played at Holy Family Spirit High in Absecon, is better known as a head coach than as a player. Milt Wagner, who lives in Louisville, praised his grandsons performance in his Camden debut. (79 kg). In 81-82, the Poets stars consisted of two pairs of close childhood friends. the official stats partner of the NBA, NHL and MLB. [1] On November 20, two months after he recovered from a serious illness to make an NBA comeback, the Warriors bought out his contract after he had played one game for the team. ClutchPoints was able to catch up briefly with Muggsy Bogues recently. "Once we got it started, I wasn't just representing the Wagner name, I was representing our city," Wagner says. Two of the team's star players were from 70 miles north of Camden, and one lived in a house owned by Wagner's father, Dajuan, a former Camden star and NBA lottery pick. He's only getting better, too. The familiar chant, "You want The High? The former Camden star, who won an NCAA title at Louisville and an NBA title with the Los Angeles Lakers, watched his highly-touted grandson score 15 points in his debut for the Panthers. CAMDEN, WHICH SITS on nine square miles just across the Delaware River from Philadelphia, was once renowned as a manufacturing hub, churning out products from Navy vessels and RCA Victor phonographs to Campbell's soup. He played before the three-point shot was added to the high school game or his career-point total would have been much higher. 786. Youve lived a long life in terms of, basketball wise, you did a lot, so why not help them? They were ranked the top high school team in the nation throughout the season, and they won the state title again Dunbars sixth title in eight years. . Wherever he chooses, he has the potential to go further than both his dad and his grandfather, to become the biggest NBA star to come out of Camden yet. The Panthers had not won a state championship since Dajuan led them to the crown in 2000. The Lenape High graduate went from Rider University to the first round of the 2008 NBA Draft. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. Putting a list together like this is an inexact science. He underwent surgery to have a portion of his colon removed, and by 2006 he was out of the league. the Wagners could become the first family with three generations of McDonald's All-Americans and NBA players. became the linchpin in the effort to put The High back on top. Looking back on their departure to Brooklyn. College, you mentor them and they want, theyre like, yo, he was where I want to be, they listen to you. He averaged 13.4 points for Cleveland as a rookie before illness and injuries ended his professional career. Everyone's excited, happy. D.J. Louisville Basketball - Big Board Class of 2024 grew up outside Camden in Gloucester County, many in the city always expected he would play for The High. He averaged a career-low 4.0 points in 11 games played during the 200405 season, and was hospitalized for ulcerative colitis. Not many dispute it. He wants to be a head college basketball coach. With their dominance, they were unofficially crowned the best high school team of all time by many. In one game against DeMatha, Muggsy went up for a layup, but was trapped by two defenders in mid-air. Abandoned industrial sites dominate other parts of the city, and much of the downtown is eerily quiet, even during business hours. If anyone dropped a brick, everyone would have to start over. High school career [ edit] We had so much feedback on the list that we decided to take another swing at the ranking, added several players that readers rightly said were missing. That time is now over. [12] He contributed with 16 points in the title game against South Carolina and at the end of the season he earned several NIT and conference honors, including the MVP award of the 2002 NIT. Before he inherited his winningest teams, Wade would walk over to watch the kids in the area play. Now they will do battle in an unexpected series. Former NBA player and coach Rick Brunson will be hired as the new basketball coach at Camden High School pending board of education approval, The Inquirer has learned. The goal was to build endurance, strength, and of course, character. Same hype. He won all seven state titles between 1974-87, a remarkable run of great players, great teams and great moments. The duo played a lot in rec leagues, and their main competition was the team from the Cecil projects. "To see everybody in those shirts walking around out here, that means a lot to me," he tells the audience. He didnt realize he was walking into a surprise birthday party, with a crowd of anxious family and friends around the corner. Camden defeated Lenape, 76-64. I would say I dont see anyone quite like the game I played but Patrick (Beverley) and Rondo are the closest.. In an area where most kids dont expect to live past 20, Bogues and Williams retreated to basketball. AAU Team: NJ Scholars. Distanced both physically and figuratively, Bogues was itching until the day he could rejoin his friends. 1-ranked recruit Wagner chooses Kentucky", "Can this 14-year-old phenom become the first third-generation NBA player? He (Dajuan) was a middle-school phenom and D.J. He was the 14th overall pick by the Boston Celtics in the 1995 draft, playing for seven teams over 13 seasons. He is seeking to become the first-ever third-generation NBA player.[13]. When Lewis went No. Get the latest UK news sent straight to your inbox with our FREE email newsletter! Nowhere has it been done more than on the high. Govan, who grew up in Jersey City, has the distinction of being only one of six players who played in each of the ABA's nine seasons. He never started more than 20 games in a season after that, but he played through 2011 before retiring. He basically shoots like me, maybe hes built like me but he plays like his dad because he attacks that basket, either hand.. I think hes really tries to put that effort out there to do that, make his guys around him better.. Murdock, who starred at Bridgewater-Raritan High, played 508 games in his NBA career and averaged 10.1 points a game. Wade wanted to establish hard-working habits that they didnt get from their environment outside of school walls. All-Time Roster - Camden Panthers Basketball (Camden, NJ) - MaxPreps.com I didnt have a dad, I grew up without a dad so I can relate to these kids. Youve lived your life. All of a sudden, there was a lot of money involved in high school basketball. Add these hints to the . Wagner. Winning comes first with me and I want to help Kentucky win as much as possible.". At nearly every game, Charlie Miller, a . Many recruiters were known to be corrupt, especially as drug dealers started to sponsor basketball teams in the area. Tools and Resources Used by Real General Managers. I was being, in my opinion, selfish. I got parents crying, he said. The sport became their safe haven, and the indoor recreation center their sanctuary. Still, if we included players who came to the state for college, it wouldn't really be a New Jersey list. [7] Wagner is considered by many to be the greatest high school basketball player in New Jersey history. Judge's order delays NJSIAA hearing on Camden High basketball 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. I learned from the master, (former Temple coach) John Chaney, he was my mentor, he was my father. The Teaneck High graduate played in the NBA from 1984-97 and won a championship with the Detroit Pistons in 1988. Wagner to make history, Men's college basketball rosters: Comings and goings for 2023-24, 2023 No. Thompson spent this past season overseas playing for the Shandong Golden Stars in China's CBA. This one is easy: The Newark native is one of the greatest centers in the history of the sport, a four-time NBA champion and a three-time NBA Finals MVP who scored 28,596 points in his career, more than all but seven players in league history. Wagner came of age as a player at a time when his city was in a downward spiral, and even then, he could sense that Camden High basketball was a civic lifeline. After all, Muggsy was playing alongside guys hed been playing with and against his whole life. If D.J., ranked by ESPN as the No. The NBA might have deserted New Jersey a few years ago, but that doesn't mean the state has stopped producing many of its best players. Choose at least two teams from the menus below to start your trade. 7. Dajuan Marquett "D. The gymnasium bears the name of coach Turner, who led the Panthers to seven state championships, and the team plays on Dajuan Wagner Court. [2][4] In his junior year he was already considered one of the top players of his class. And a trip back to Muggsys roots revealed the foundation for such a team. The 6-10 forward with a soft-shooting touch from Paterson never quite lived up to the lofty expectations when he arrived in the NBA, but he played for seven different teams during a productive 13-year NBA career. He helped bring down an athletic department. He came up with the idea and got buy-in from his sponsor Nike and city officials, says his mother Syreeta Brittingham, who hopes the party will become an annual event "to honor D.J. But the chemistry didnt come right away. Joe Girard COP Highlights 2 4,559 views 3:26. WHYY thanks our sponsors become a WHYY sponsor. He is the son of a former professional basketball player Dajuan Wagner and grandson of professional player "Ice Man" Milt Wagner.He is a consensus five-star recruit and one of the top players in the 2023 recruiting class. Wagner is only a senior at Camden High School. The Newark native has appeared in 752 games in the NBA during his career, averaging 10.3 points and 2.8 assists. The Franklin native, who went onto become one of the greatest players in Rutgers basketball history, played in 507 NBA games and scored 7,206 points. With more eyes now looking to Baltimore, Coach Wade had put together a national schedule, and the Poets rolled to a perfect 31-0. Camden's Cornelius Robinson puts up a shot during the 4th quarter of the boys basketball game between Lenape and Camden played at Camden High School on Tuesday, January 4, 2022. More: 'Chase Street' on Amazon Prime is passion project for former Camden basketball star. ", Flashback: Bronny dropped to floor by top 2023 prospect D.J. Dajuan Wagner, 39, is the leading scorer in New Jersey high school history. joined him at practice. His advice to kids today? Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Monday, May 1, 4:39AM. Wagner Jr. (born May 4, 2005) is an American basketball player who attends Camden High School in Camden, New Jersey. He has verbally committed to play at the University of Kentucky. I love the game today, he said. Wagner impresses in debut as Camden rolls to season-opening win", "Camden opens basketball season with victory over Gratz", "New Camden basketball coach Rick Brunson sees himself in players: 'I was that kid', "Camden is NJ.com's Boys Basketball Team of the Year, 2019-2020", "MaxPreps 2019-20 Boys Basketball Freshman All-American Team", "Reed Sheppard in the new national rankings, and more Kentucky basketball recruiting links", "No. He is averaging 15.0 points and 6.1 rebounds a game. Featuring four future NBA players, the Dunbar Poets from 1981-1983 have made their case to be the best high school basketball team of all time. The national player of the year honor is the latest accolade for Wagner, who, along with fellow future Wildcat Justin Edwards, was named Co-MVP of the Iverson Classic as Team Loyalty defeated Team Honor 131-124 at Kean University in Union, N.J. Saturday night. His grandfather, Milt Wagner, was a second-round pick in the 1986 NBA Draft. DJ Wagner the No. Data Provided By Todays players are skilled, large but agileThe game is faster today. He retired with 7,868 career points. Milt Wagner said his conversations with his grandson dont focus on any technical aspects of the sport. [18] However, the league folded days later, after it was discovered that the founder was a con artist. Send along your thoughts. chuckles Carstarphen, who spent six years coaching at The High before going into politics. That goes back the credit to his mom (Syreeta Brittingham) and dad, they raised him well. Allegations of cheating are not unusual in high school sports, even if they are infrequently upheld. Do you have a blog? It kept hitting me, those kids dreams are more important than yours, Brunson said. He also cherished the connections he built with his players. We present them here for purely educational purposes. Todays players are skilled, large but agileThe game is faster today. Meanwhile, D.J. to drum up support. You got The High!" That is like all we got here: Camden High School basketball. Of all his achievements, Dajuan counts winning the state championship at Camden High as his most memorable basketball moment. 6 pick in the NBA draft in 2002. "I am basically a shy person.". This is tricky, because several great players such as Luol Deng only stayed in New Jersey briefly. He works for the NBA Players' Association as a regional representative. Coming into the tournament, the Scholars, which includes Wagner and three other Camden High players, is among the best on the summer circuit. He was the No. It's evidence of a family legacy that he has both inherited and made his own. "I think because there is so much negativity talked about in Camden, the game became more important," he says. Through the decline and rebirth, the Panthers' dominance has been a constant and the team is woven through the fabric of the city. Camden High School's new head basketball coach Maalik Wayns instructs his players during the boys basketball game between Camden and Rancocas Valley . "Above all he is a competitor. [2] He scored 3,462 points in high school (the most in New Jersey high school history, breaking former high school star John Somogyi's scoring record of 3,451 points; when Somogyi played there was no 3-point shot), and scored 25 points in the McDonald's All-American Game. I fell in love with the community, the fans, the students., More: South Jersey Football Mean 15 Rankings for Nov. 8. Hes a respectful kid. "But it gives people here a sense of hope and pride that D.J. But the Sixers have been in unfamiliar territory, navigating this eight-day layoff between their first-round playoff sweep of the Brooklyn Nets and Monday's Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Boston Celtics. The Knicks might want a return on the four-year, $72 million contract they gave him, though. Wagner was hampered by injuries and health problems thereafter. "He said he would be with me until the wheels fall off the car either way. Still, he won a championship with the Boston Celtics in 1981, and is credited for hitting the first 3-point shot in NBA history. Across town, over at the Cecil Kirk Recreation Center, David Wingate, a future Charlotte Hornet, and Reggie Lewis, future captain of the Boston Celtics, were putting on a show. FindNJ.com on Facebook. The Metro Classic basketball tournament has featured some of the best teams and top high . The Hudson Catholic graduate went from one of the finest college teams at North Carolina to some woeful NBA teams in his home state, playing for the Nets from 1980-86. Dajuan Marquett "D. J." Wagner Jr. (born May 4, 2005) is an American basketball player who attends Camden High School in Camden, New Jersey. Pursuing those dreams didnt feel right. Bibby, who was born in Cherry Hill before moving to California as a child, played in 1,001 NBA games and averaged 14.7 points. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. But what no one knew at the time what no one dared dream . Wagner, take the court, wearing his fathers old No. Jimmy Butler and Tom Thibodeau remain linked. He moved back to Camden, reconnected with The High and began training his son in the family business. And he made it a point to steep D.J. How can we rank a player this high after just two seasons? 1 in the 2023 rankings, Wagner finishes ranked No. The Perth Amboy native is a two-time ABA champion who successfully made the transition to the NBA, where he averaged a career-high 17 points a game for the Kansas City Kings in 1976. Ranking them is, of course, virtually impossible. They had met back in Muggyss hometown when he was back at his old high school, before his NBA fame and retirement. But the pandemic halted the school's drive for a state championship. Visualize it and stay on that path. He has languished on some bad teams during his 12 years as a pro, including the woeful Brooklyn Nets last season. A player can qualify for this list in twoways: 1. "This is a poor city; it was really, really bad at one time," says Kevin Cooke, who attended The High in the 1980s. I love the spirit hell bring to practice every day, and I love that he wanted to be at Kentucky. Im coming there to win. In ESPN's initial mock 2024 NBA Draft, Wagner is projected as a top-10 pick. Indeed if Muggsy had never believed in himself, if he had never visualized what he could become he wouldnt be the player and man he is today. He also has outstanding footwork, speed and balance. 3 in the nation at the Seagull Classic at Holy Spirit. But he averaged 18.7 points and 11.8rebounds a game, becoming one of the sport's most dominant big men before knee injuries destroyed his career.
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