joined him at practice. I would say I dont see anyone quite like the game I played but Patrick (Beverley) and Rondo are the closest.. The Panthers finally broke through last season, winning the 2022 state championship. High School Basketball Players Who Had 100-Point Games Tony Adame Scoring 100 points in a basketball game is an amazing feat for any player. Well, these have been two ridiculous seasons for the Piscataway native and St. Joseph's (Metuchen) star. He scored a season-high 32 points against Old Dominion on November 14, 2001 in his 2nd game with Memphis, and tied his season high on March 26, 2002 against Temple during the NIT semifinal. After spending the majority of his high school career at No. Follow him on Twitter@StevePoliti. Milt Wagner said he hoped to attend as many Camden games as possible this season. NBA Players Born In Camden (NJ), United States - RealGM This was Carstarphen and Brown's junior year. In ESPN's initial mock 2024 NBA Draft, Wagner is projected as a top-10 pick. Brunson will replace Vic Carstarphen, his former teammate at Temple. Ranking: 247Sports - No. He kept his composure and did what he had to do.. He also has outstanding footwork, speed and balance. Growing up, the two friends would always play on the same team together. Thats what I noticed at Camden High.. 1 in the 2023-24 men's Way-Too-Early Top 25, Everything you need to know about "The Bag Game," a podcast on college hoops' bribery scandal, Updating the 2023 men's college basketball recruiting class rankings: See the full top 25, Bigger than Bronny? How can we rank a player this high after just two seasons? Yet, in the days following his decision, he couldnt sleep. On Friday, Milt Wagner watched his grandson, D.J. He wants to be a head college basketball coach. The following year, in the 1982-83 season, Dunbar picked up right where they left off, and further solidified themselves as a national powerhouse. 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. The first family of Camden basketball: Freshman guard D.J. He finished with 999 career assists. Along the way, he played in nearly 800 games and twice played in the NBA Finals. there was Dajuan, and before Dajuan, there was Milt. Camden High to hire Rick Brunson as boys' basketball coach - Inquirer.com NBA Players Born In Camden (NJ), United States - RealGM. Raymond Townsend - Wikipedia He is a consensus five-star recruit and one of the top players in the 2023 recruiting class. D.J. The primary knock against Ayton is that he wants more. High school career [ edit] College, you mentor them and they want, theyre like, yo, he was where I want to be, they listen to you. 1 in the 2023 rankings, Wagner finishes ranked No. That goes back the credit to his mom (Syreeta Brittingham) and dad, they raised him well. "That was big for me," Milt, now 59, says. , I love the game today, he said. But photos of him peer down from a line of banners strung from lampposts along the redeveloped waterfront, and white T-shirts bear his name in purple and gold letters. The Camden (N.J.) 5-star combo guard is the second straight Kentucky signee to win the award, following Cason Wallace, who took home the honor in 2021. Always ridiculed and looked over, he found that the sport could earn him the currency of the land: respect. His family and friends eagerly chanted his name. Dajuan Marquett "D. J." Wagner Jr. (born May 4, 2005) is an American basketball player who attends Camden High School in Camden, New Jersey. During his tenure, Brunson boasted a 73-4 record and ignited the Panthers' resurgence on the national high school basketball scene. 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. Now they will do battle in an unexpected series. Coming into the tournament, the Scholars, which includes Wagner and three other Camden High players, is among the best on the summer circuit. 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 Throne 2023: Which top high school prospects are playing in NBA Get table as CSV (for Excel) Get Link to Table. "But to see a kid like that doing something for himself and doing something for the community is a great thing. Youve lived a long life in terms of, basketball wise, you did a lot, so why not help them? Dajuan Wagner was the 6th pick in the 2002 NBA draft who made a huge name for himself in High School scoring 100 points in a single game. Distanced both physically and figuratively, Bogues was itching until the day he could rejoin his friends. [11] Visualize it and stay on that path. "But it gives people here a sense of hope and pride that D.J. He won all seven state titles between 1974-87, a remarkable run of great players, great teams and great moments. Averaging 40 points per game over the course of a season in high school basketball is hard. He's played eight seasons in the NBA. 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. He played at the point guard position. He was born in Trenton before moving to Dallas as a child. A former NBA player and coach, Brunson has been Camden's coach for one season. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. 2 recruit Holland decommits from Texas, Butler transfer Lukosius commits to Cincinnati, New Big Ten boss Petitti ready to lead 'new era', Penn's Dingle, top Ivy League player, to transfer, Utah Valley's Bandaogo entering transfer portal, Memphis' Hardaway hires Stansbury as assistant, Top guard transfer Abmas commits to Longhorns, Duke moves up to No. That year, Muggsy averaged eight points, eight assists, and eight steals per game as the offensive initiator and the defensive disruptor. The Camden High Panthers ranked the best public school team in New Jersey and one of the top 20 high school basketball squads in America are entering the playoffs Tuesday after a 25-1 regular season, and their fans are cheering louder than ever. No more rumors until I decide to say, hey, Im leaving. As a kid he revered Camden High stars led by coach Clarence Turner, who molded the Panthers into a powerhouse in the 1970s and '80s. Everyone's excited, happy. Scores from any date in BAA/NBA or ABA history, Frequently Asked Questions about the NBA, WNBA and Basketball, Basketball-Reference.com Blog and Articles, Subscribe to Stathead Basketball: Get your first month FREE. On August 31, 2007, Wagner signed a one-year contract with Prokom Trefl Sopot in Poland. It's evidence of a family legacy that he has both inherited and made his own. But photos of . The Panthers' victory, however, came with a side of controversy. Between games, he laughs with his teammates, peeks in on the competition and cheers on Scholars squads playing in younger age divisions. in that heritage. [2], On January 16, 2001 he scored 100 points against Camden County Tech. After being one of five finalists for Naismith Boys High School Player of the Year, Kentucky signee DJ Wagner was named Iverson Classic National High School Player of the Year. He finished six points shy of 8,000 for his career, and then became one of the top players for the expansion Minnesota Timberwolves. could potentially make it.". He played on six teams over end seasons and was out of the NBA at 26. He won an NBA title with the Los Angeles Lakers in 1988 before playing overseas. the former Temple standout and NBA player, coached the Panthers, who . West, a Teaneck native, has turned down millions in pursuit of the one thing he has lacked in his career: A championship ring. For the Suns to beat the Nuggets, let alone reach The Finals, they need Ayton to narrow his role - then thrive in it. The gymnasium bears the name of coach Turner, who led the Panthers to seven state championships, and the team plays on Dajuan Wagner Court. Only two players in NBA history have done it and they are both named Wilt Chamberlain. Dajuan Wagner scored a state-record, 3,462 points in his Camden career. Wagner, who signed with the Wildcats during the early period, chose Kentucky over archrival Louisville. Sparrow, who starred at Eastside High in Paterson, had a productive 12-year career as a point guard in the NBA. [4][5] At the end of the season he had an average of 31.9 points per game. I wanted to go do something for me instead of doing something for them. The game is tentatively scheduled for the afternoon of Saturday, Jan. 16. He also broke the record for points in a single season for Memphis with 762. Before D.J. [2][4] In his junior year he was already considered one of the top players of his class. 22 overall, even Wade was a bit in disbelief, but also quite proud of his former players. Get the latest UK news sent straight to your inbox with our FREE email newsletter! Find out more. The powerful 6-foot-2 guard led the Panthers to a state championship in 2000 and was the top scorer for the Memphis Tigers during his lone collegiate season. As a result, the New Jersey Interscholastic Athletic Association launched an investigation that is ongoing, officials said. [6], Coached by former NBA player Rick Brunson,[7] Wagner helped lead Camden to 25 consecutive victories before the team's season was ended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He didnt realize he was walking into a surprise birthday party, with a crowd of anxious family and friends around the corner. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. He grew up in a Camden suburb and enrolled as a nonresident student at the Camden Big Picture Learning Academy, a city magnet school whose students can compete on Camden High sports teams. After all, Muggsy was playing alongside guys hed been playing with and against his whole life. The man who had the unenviable task of replacing Bill Russell on the Boston Celtics eventually became a fan favorite in the city. Regardless of the investigation, Camden is ready for another championship, another season of glory for D.J. The following year, in 1981, Bogues transferred for his junior season (high school for them was just three years). Brunson played college basketball for the Temple Owls . The Untold Story Of The Greatest High School Team Ever - ClutchPoints All rights reserved. Through the decades, the school everyone here simply calls "The High" has won 12 state championships in boys basketball, the most of any public school in New Jersey, and been runners-up another 16 times. The team brought in top players from five counties outside Camden to help him, including 7-foot center Aaron Bradshaw, who recently committed to Kentucky. "You've heard the clich that basketball is a religion. His feisty and fast-paced style of play has no doubt influenced the league in the modern era. 1987 (28-3). June 23, 2022. Wagner, take the court, wearing his fathers old No. "Class of 2023 recruiting rankings headlined by DaJuan Wagner Jr., Mikey Williams and Bronny James", "Son of NBA player ranked No. Noticing that players would start to falter defensively in the second half, he would have his players hold bricks while doing their workouts and sprints. 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. NBA & ABA Players Who Attended High School in New Jersey Abandoned industrial sites dominate other parts of the city, and much of the downtown is eerily quiet, even during business hours. Our capsules show the matchups along with the Net Rating, Offensive Rating and Defensive Rating for each team. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. Add you thoughts in the comments section or send them directly to columnist Steve Politi atspoliti@njadvancemedia.com. He was fifth on The Star-Ledger's list of the greatest N.J. athletes of the 20th Century, and had his focus been solely on basketball and not also a pro football career, there's no telling what he might have accomplished. I fell in love with the community, the fans, the students., More: South Jersey Football Mean 15 Rankings for Nov. 8. ", Like they once celebrated his grandfather and father, the people of Camden have embraced D.J., and the block party is his way to give back. I think it helped elevate my profile.". He underwent surgery to have a portion of his colon removed, and by 2006 he was out of the league. Wagner is only a senior at Camden High School. During his playing career, he was listed at 6'3" (1.91 m) tall and 175 lbs. I love the game today, he said. UPDATED -- 6/21. He is the son of former University of Louisville and National Basketball Association (NBA) player Milt Wagner [1] and left the NBA early into his career because of debilitating health problems. He was the 14th overall pick by the Boston Celtics in the 1995 draft, playing for seven teams over 13 seasons. He wasthe team's second-leading scorer on March 2, 1962, with 17 points. "Honestly, when our basketball program is going, you can see the difference in the community. For Milt Wagner, the feeling was familiar. As Camden shrank and its tax base eroded, it became infamous for violent crime and blight. Do you have a sports website? On September 22, 2006, Wagner signed a two-year $1.6 million contract with the Golden State Warriors. CAMDEN, New Jersey (WPVI) -- Rick Brunson is bringing the same fire and intensity he did as a star player at Temple University and in the NBA to Camden High School, as the new boys' basketball coach. He returned the embrace. He debuted on December 19, 1997 against Highland High School, scoring 12 points. With D.J. But he was also, more importantly, a loyal friend, a proud father, and a loving husband. Wagner is only a senior at Camden High School. Ron "Itchy" Smith, legendary Camden High basketball player, dies The River Dell High graduatestarted his long career in the ABA in 1970 with the New York Americans and finished it in 1985 with the Utah Jazz. Dajuan Wagner - Wikipedia Each era has its uniqueness. Fans look down from a walking track on a higher floor, intent on sizing Wagner up. Wagner is the son of Milt Wagner, who was a second-round pick in the 1986 NBA Draft. Get as Excel Workbook. Reggie Williams caught it in mid-flight and slammed it home. The team started looking out for each other, and ego no longer was an issue. For family of basketball stars, Camden's Dajuan Wagner Jr. proving best I would say I dont see anyone quite like the game I played but Patrick (Beverley) and Rondo are the closest.. Wagner and Bronny James, two of the top players in the class of 2023, according to a Masslive.com report. So, on the fly, he did a 360-degree turn and threw an alley-oop pass behind his neck. With families sometimes struggling to make ends meet, the one thing these kids could count on was a ball and a hoop, and their local rec league team tearing it up. "I take a lot of pride in playing for Camden," he says. At the time, they celebrated his on-court brilliance. Players/Teams - Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame In the 1981-82 season, their biggest game came against the Camden High Panthers, the number-one ranked high school team in the nation. I learned from the master, (former Temple coach) John Chaney, he was my mentor, he was my father. He basically shoots like me, maybe hes built like me but he plays like his dad because he attacks that basket, either hand.. J." As a freshman, he once scored 45 points in a game and as a senior he went for 100. I think hes really tries to put that effort out there to do that, make his guys around him better.. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. It was just as big when Juannie came in, Milt Wagner said. In five years, Camden had lost only one game at home. The sport became their safe haven, and the indoor recreation center their sanctuary. DJ Wagner the No. Coach Bob Wade had found success as head coach of the Dunbar High Poets. Under all the circumstances, all the hoopla, I think he played well. There will be no more rumors, never, ever. His best season came in 2008-09, when he averaged 16.2 points and 6.7 rebounds a game for Milwaukee. Former Villanova star Maalik Wayns expected to be coach of Camden He won a state title in 1979.
