His backstory -- he was raised by a lesbian couple in the city -- became a compelling narrative after he was drafted in the first round in 2011. worked out under his father's tutelage, learning some of the game's subtleties, and becoming a standout wherever he played. If anyone dropped a brick, everyone would have to start over. I didnt have a dad, I grew up without a dad so I can relate to these kids. Allegations of cheating are not unusual in high school sports, even if they are infrequently upheld. 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. 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. With D.J. Hes built like me, probably shoots like me, but everything else he got from his dad, Milt Wagner said. Camden High School, Camden (NJ) Basketball Players - RealGM 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. And that's what we're gunning for with this project. many NBA First Round Draft Picks, College All-Americans and McDonald's All-Americans. Wagner scored 15 points in his debut for the Panthers. He finished the season averaging 35.3 points per game,[2] and won the ESPN Sophomore of the Year award. Follow him on Twitter@StevePoliti. Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. So tell us: Who did we rank too low? He averaged 20.7 points a game for the 2008-09 season with the Knicks, the best of his career on a bad New York team. Although D.J. The 6-foot-11 forward, who grew up in Sparta and starred at nearby Delbarton before becoming a college star at Notre Dame, averaged a double-doublein five of his 12 NBA seasons. A motorcycle accident after his rookie season ended what could have been a brilliant NBA career. Wagner. Players listed for each high school attended; Active players in bold; * Indicates Hall of Famer; Includes stats from NBA and ABA. He felt it was the right time to start pursuing those aims. "But it gives people here a sense of hope and pride that D.J. Rick Brunson decides to stay as Camden basketball coach - Courier-Post He played one year of college basketball at the University of Memphis. arrived on the Camden High squad in 2019 as it was going through a particularly frustrating stretch. 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. He is also the answer to a trivia question: Who scored the first field goal in Miami Heat history? Bogues, who was around 11 or 12 years old at the time, could keep up with all the older kids, despite the height disparity. On August 31, 2007, Wagner signed a one-year contract with Prokom Trefl Sopot in Poland. Former Temple star, NBA player Rick Brunson coaching Camden High School He attacks the offensive end and is a versatile scorer, but he is equally as tough on defense. He won a state title in 1979. 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. Wagner scored 15 points, making a pair of three-pointers, as Camden beat a Gratz team that entered play with an 8-0 record. I tell him thats what determines great players. Meanwhile, D.J. Kentucky, led by his father's college coach John Calipari, and Louisville, where his grandfather played and was hired in May to head basketball player development and alumni relations, are widely seen as the front-runners. The Blair Academy graduate played for 11 years in the NBA, most recently for the Dallas Mavericks in the 2015-16 season. He was one of the inaugural members of the FIBA Hall of Fame and, in 2017, the eight-time Greek League champion was inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame. [19], Wagner has been a resident of West Deptford Township, New Jersey.[20]. Milt Wagner, a legendary Camden High basketball player who won an NCAA title at Louisville and an NBA title with the Los Angeles Lakers, watched his son . As Rick Brunson Leaves Camden, His Impact Will Never Be Questioned For Camden legend Milt Wagner, a grandfather's pride - Inquirer.com CAMDEN, NJ - The Camden High School community honored one of its best basketball players of all time on Friday night over 60 years after he graduated. The Knicks might want a return on the four-year, $72 million contract they gave him, though. But the city is trying to rebuild. Select the fourth team from the drop down menu. Unlike many of his peers, he posts sparingly on social media. He has stood at the top of his recruiting class since he started high school, but he carries himself with a quiet humility, even getting water for his teammates when he is on the bench. Some of the legends of the sport have learned to play on our playgrounds and for our high school teams. They took Coach Wades words to heart. In his rookie season he averaged 13.4 points per game and shot 36.9% from the field. This was Turner's last state championship team. Under all the circumstances, all the hoopla, I think he played well. The top-ranked junior prospect is a front-runner for National MaxPreps Player of the Year honors after winning Sophomore MaxPreps Player of the Year last season. Each era has its uniqueness. Camden closed last season on a 25-game winning streak, was named the South Jersey Team of the Year and finished No. NBA Players Born In Camden (NJ), United States - RealGM. Get table as CSV (for Excel) Get Link to Table. "Honestly, when our basketball program is going, you can see the difference in the community. Modify, Export & Share Table. He also won the event's 3-Point Contest, making 16 of 25 shots from beyond the arc on his homecourt at Camden on Thursday, becoming the second UK signee to win the event in the last three years, joining TyTy Washington, who won it in 2021. Youve lived a long life in terms of, basketball wise, you did a lot, so why not help them? Born in Caldwell, Henderson was the No. He led the Panthers to a 29-1 record in 2019-20, including a season-ending, 25-game winning streak. 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. ClutchPoints was able to catch up briefly with Muggsy Bogues recently. Wagner is only a senior at Camden High School. The only place he wanted to be was Camden. Louisville Basketball - Big Board Class of 2024 NBA & ABA Players Who Attended High School in New Jersey 1 in the 2023 rankings, Wagner finishes ranked No. He was born here. He underwent surgery to have a portion of his colon removed, and by 2006 he was out of the league. Irving is a four-time All-Star who helped lead the Cleveland Cavaliers to an NBA title last summer, and two months later, Team USA to a gold medal in Rio. He was drafted 6th overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2002 NBA draft. 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. 50 years young and a family man, Tyrone Muggsy Bogues stepped into the 50th-floor lounge unassumingly. 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. "I wear Camden on my chest wherever I go. D.J. West, a Teaneck native, has turned down millions in pursuit of the one thing he has lacked in his career: A championship ring. Carstarphen resigned after one season to focus on a run for Camden . Wagner was chosen with the sixth overall pick of the 2002 NBA draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers. D.J., a sleek, 6-3 combo guard, led a stacked Panthers squad to a state championship last season, averaging over 19 points a game. 12 overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft. Thats unbelievable, Milt Wagner said. 786. Finishing 59-0 over two seasons, those Dunbar teams were a force. 22 overall, even Wade was a bit in disbelief, but also quite proud of his former players. The Jersey City native, who starred at St. Anthony High and then Seton Hall, went on to have a productive four-year NBA career. 167 Players. I would say I dont see anyone quite like the game I played but Patrick (Beverley) and Rondo are the closest.. 91; 247Sports Composite . First, some ground rules. ; Step 2: Choose the . He averaged a career-low 4.0 points in 11 games played during the 200405 season, and was hospitalized for ulcerative colitis. "But to see a kid like that doing something for himself and doing something for the community is a great thing. At nearly every game, Charlie Miller, a . All of a sudden, there was a lot of money involved in high school basketball. 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. Leaving the Panthers felt more like a nightmare. Help support local journalism with a Courier Post subscription. Also: N.J.'s 50 greatest baseball players. Still, if we included players who came to the state for college, it wouldn't really be a New Jersey list. Theyre like coach, we need you, but were happy for you. They had to stop the entire game for a minute because everyone in the gym couldnt believe what they had just seen. He wants to be a head college basketball coach. Brunson was inundated with calls after word leaked he was leaving, but the city only gave him love, which was another reason he couldnt bring himself to leave. Bogues told us he still watches the league today and is a fan. Wagner was named New Jersey's high school basketball player of the year. When he became a Panther, Wagner says, he realized just how much the city wrapped itself around the team. [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. He played before the three-point shot was added to the high school game or his career-point total would have been much higher. He converted 42 of his 61 field goals (with 10 3-pointers) and 6 free throws: he scored 25 points in the first quarter, 21 in the second, 26 in the third and 28 in the fourth. I wanted to go do something for me instead of doing something for them. The Columbia High and Seton Hall graduate had a long and productive career in the NBA, one that started in 1988 with Portland and ended in 2003 in Boston. Lines forms outside the gymnasium long before they take the court. They retired his No. This is tricky, because several great players such as Luol Deng only stayed in New Jersey briefly. Camden earned New Jersey Boys Basketball Team of the Year honors by NJ.com.[8]. The annual HoopHall Classic, which brings together many of the . You can also contact him at 856-486-2431. the official stats partner of the NBA, NHL and MLB. Wagner, the No. I grew up with five brothers and sisters all having different fathers. Wagner has committed to the University of Kentucky, joining Big Blue Nation for the 2023-24 season. On that night in 2015, in that high-rise lounge overlooking the city, Muggsy walked into his surprise birthday party and unexpected wedding. With a pastor and their family and friends present, there at the top of a high-rise apartment building, Bogues and his ex-wife, Kim, renewed their vows and were married again on January 9, 2015 some 30 years after they had first met and started dating. "This is a poor city; it was really, really bad at one time," says Kevin Cooke, who attended The High in the 1980s. 12 in the 1987 Draft and is the shortest player ever to play in the NBA. Compounding matters, they finished second in the state tournament eight times between 2001 and 2017. Subscribe to Stathead Basketball: Get your first month FREEYour All-Access Ticket to the Basketball Reference Database. McCaffery: In Doc Rivers, Sixers enjoy a golden advantage over Celtics Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Shorter than his peers, all he had to do was steal the ball a few times or drive right past a guy, and theyd look at him differently. Choose at least two teams from the menus below to start your trade. ClutchPoints was able to. 3 in the nation at the Seagull Classic at Holy Spirit. Camden High starts playoffs ranked in top 20 in U.S. WHYY has echoed at Panthers games for decades. He never started more than 20 games in a season after that, but he played through 2011 before retiring. They turn out to pick up backpacks and school supplies given away by Nike and Subaru, to shoot hoops and eat free food, but mostly they come to celebrate a young man. D.J. . As a freshman, he once scored 45 points in a game and as a senior he went for 100. Crotty, who played at Christian Brothers Academy in Lincroft, was undrafted out of the University of Virginia, but the 6-foot-1 point guard bounced around the NBA for 11 seasons before retiring in 2003. College, you mentor them and they want, theyre like, yo, he was where I want to be, they listen to you. [1][2] He is the son of a former professional basketball player Dajuan Wagner and grandson of professional player "Ice Man" Milt Wagner. Theyd have to toss aside former rivalries and childhood differences. Youre all good parents, I got the best parents. Wagner (left), his grandfather Milt Wagner (center) and his father Dajuan after Camden's 72-52 win over Gratz on Friday. Our capsules show the matchups along with the Net Rating, Offensive Rating and Defensive Rating for each team. [2], On January 16, 2001 he scored 100 points against Camden County Tech. The Plainfield native was a college superstar, leading Duke to a NCAA championship (2001) and winning the Naismith Player of the Year Award (2002). He was born in Trenton before moving to Dallas as a child. They retired his No.. He played nine seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and has also worked as an assistant coach for several teams. Judge's order delays NJSIAA hearing on Camden High basketball About Sharing Tools. November 12, 2021 Ron "Itchy" Smith, legendary Camden High basketball player, dies shortly after having number retired The six-foot-one guard, a member of the class of 1960, was the first player . This was Carstarphen and Brown's junior year. During his playing career, he was listed at 6'3" (1.91 m) tall and 175 lbs. Dajuan Wagner, 39, is the leading scorer in New Jersey high school history. His feisty and fast-paced style of play has no doubt influenced the league in the modern era. The team started looking out for each other, and ego no longer was an issue. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. He started all 20 games for the Miami Heat during their 2011 playoff run that ended with a loss to the Dallas Mavericks in six games. During the summer heading into his freshman season at Camden, Wagner was one of just three Class of 2023 prospects invited to the USA Basketball July mini camp in Colorado Springs. Notes: Knox is the brother of former UK and current NBA player Kevin Knox; . He retired with 7,868 career points. The Newark native has appeared in 752 games in the NBA during his career, averaging 10.3 points and 2.8 assists. could potentially make it.". D.J. Distanced both physically and figuratively, Bogues was itching until the day he could rejoin his friends. He averaged 10.3 points and 5.3 rebounds. 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. For the Suns to beat the Nuggets, let alone reach The Finals, they need Ayton to narrow his role - then thrive in it. Before he inherited his winningest teams, Wade would walk over to watch the kids in the area play. When Lewis went No. ", Flashback: Bronny dropped to floor by top 2023 prospect D.J. Wagner, take the court, wearing his fathers old No. City political leaders, including Mayor Victor Carstarphen, the school board president and a former member of the city council and state legislature, once wore the Panthers' purple and gold. The Teaneck High graduate played in the NBA from 1984-97 and won a championship with the Detroit Pistons in 1988. He went on to play in 27 games his first season, averaging 27.3 points and recording a season-high of 45 points against Red Bank on February 13, 1998,[2] and at the end of the season he received the Freshman of the Year award from ESPN. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. So, on the fly, he did a 360-degree turn and threw an alley-oop pass behind his neck. 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. There is no bigger name in this hoops loving city, where over the decades "Wagner" has become synonymous with championships. chuckles Carstarphen, who spent six years coaching at The High before going into politics. The familiar chant, "You want The High? The son of a former NBA player, he's a key contributor with the Philadelphia 76ers now, averaging 9.2 points per game off the bench. D.J. During their run, Reggie Williams grew to be one of the best high school players in the country, and USA Today named him the High School Player of the Year. The basketball, his dad has that and the kid has a lot of natural tools, Milt Wagner said. Updated on Jun 5, 2019, 12:14 p.m. Even more surprising, he didnt realize he was walking into a surprise wedding his own. 1 prospect in the high school class of 2023 has made a decision. Today, many of its rowhouse neighborhoods are gap-toothed, marked by vacant homes and litter-strewn lots. Steve Pikiell's team showing signs of progress. "To see everybody in those shirts walking around out here, that means a lot to me," he tells the audience. According to certain teammates, they said Muggsy was freezing them out in games. Winning comes first with me and I want to help Kentucky win as much as possible.". I was being, in my opinion, selfish. His shirtless celebration after the Cavaliers won the 2016 championship -- with Smith starting all 21 playoff games -- became a big deal on social media.
