RealGM Trade Checker Step 1: Select the Teams Choose at least two teams from the menus below to start your trade. [11] Putting a list together like this is an inexact science. Coach Turner was there to watch. Wagner scored 15 points in his debut for the Panthers. But photos of . 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. Boasting four future NBA players, the Poets took the life out of their opponents and their gyms. The crowd exploded. 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. They dont complain, theyre great. He also broke the record for points in a single season for Memphis with 762. 1-ranked recruit Wagner chooses Kentucky", "Can this 14-year-old phenom become the first third-generation NBA player? Wagner (left), his grandfather Milt Wagner (center) and his father Dajuan after Camden's 72-52 win over Gratz on Friday. 7. The 48-year-old Washington Township resident reached out to the school and rescinded his resignation. That goes back the credit to his mom (Syreeta Brittingham) and dad, they raised him well. Confirm that your trade proposal is valid according to the NBA collective bargaining agreement. Many recruiters were known to be corrupt, Bogues told us he still watches the league today and is a fan. "I am basically a shy person.". [3], The following year he played in 28 games. Camden is set to play Sierra Canyon of Los Angeles in a game that would match rising sophomores D.J. He played before the three-point shot was added to the high school game or his career-point total would have been much higher. I think hes really tries to put that effort out there to do that, make his guys around him better.. But the city is trying to rebuild. They knew each others games well. He also has outstanding footwork, speed and balance. "This is a poor city; it was really, really bad at one time," says Kevin Cooke, who attended The High in the 1980s. In ESPN's initial mock 2024 NBA Draft, Wagner is projected as a top-10 pick. The Jersey City native became a college star at Duke, leading the Blue Devils to back-to-back NCAA titles as their floor general. He won an NBA title with the Los Angeles Lakers in 1988 before playing overseas. The man who had the unenviable task of replacing Bill Russell on the Boston Celtics eventually became a fan favorite in the city. . But college recruiting was no easy field. CAMDEN, N.J. -- On a sunny Saturday just before the start of the school year, hundreds of people flock to Wiggins Waterfront Park for a block party. [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. Wagner attended Camden High School, where he played with the varsity team freshman year. When the small-of-stature Muggsy was announced in the starting lineup, the whole Camden High gym laughed and jeered. Do you have a blog? 6 min read. "Coach John Calipariwas always straightforward and honest with me," Wagner said. Camden Basketball History Previous Seasons All-Time Roster 2022-23 ( 12 players) Head Coach: Maalik Waynes Richmond, Billy ( Jr.) Hornsby, Jaylan ( Jr.) Murray, Teron ( Jr.) Moore, Ramone Wagner, Dj ( Sr.) Bradshaw, Aaron ( Sr.) Haskins, Dasear ( Sr.) Coleman, James Medley, Cian ( Sr.) Robinson, Cornelius ( Sr.) Mcgill, Ernest Mack, Jaleel ( Sr.) 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. Camden officials have denied the allegations, saying the out-of-district enrollments were handled properly. "That is the bright light in our city that everybody gets behind.". It also was different -- the same sense of pride tinged with the bittersweet realization of the passage of time. 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 . A former NFL player, Wade implemented a military-like approach to his practices. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement (updated 4/4/2023), Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (updated 1/26/2023). Abandoned industrial sites dominate other parts of the city, and much of the downtown is eerily quiet, even during business hours. 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. He led the Panthers to a 29-1 record in 2019-20, including a season-ending, 25-game winning streak. 6 pick in the NBA draft in 2002. For Milt Wagner, the feeling was familiar. All rights reserved. 1 overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft, and while he is just entering his prime, he has already earned his lofty spot on this list. Hype erupts around Sierra Canyon's Juju Watkins. In 81-82, the Poets stars consisted of two pairs of close childhood friends. Finishing 59-0 over two seasons, those Dunbar teams were a force. This page is not available in other languages. Williams headed to Georgetown, Reggie Lewis went to play for Northeastern, and Muggsy attended Wake Forest. He works for the NBA Players' Association as a regional representative. Growing up, the two friends would always play on the same team together. He wants everybody else to do well.. During his tenure, Brunson boasted a 73-4 record and ignited the Panthers' resurgence on the national high school basketball scene. Under all the circumstances, all the hoopla, I think he played well. there was Dajuan, and before Dajuan, there was Milt. 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. 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. The primary knock against Ayton is that he wants more. He played on six teams over end seasons and was out of the NBA at 26. "That is just my personality," he says. Dajuan Wagner scored a state-record, 3,462 points in his Camden career. ", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Dajuan_Wagner_Jr.&oldid=1151730067. He is a consensus five-star recruit and one of the top players in the 2023 recruiting class. Before D.J. ", 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. As a freshman, he once scored 45 points in a game and as a senior he went for 100. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. Youre all good parents, I got the best parents. I would say I dont see anyone quite like the game I played but Patrick (Beverley) and Rondo are the closest.. He was born in Jersey City and played at St. Michael's High School in Union City, and in 1957 was named NBA Rookie of the Year ahead of teammate Bill Russell. 1 basketball recruit in the country for the class of 2023, according to 247Sports[21] and selected as a McDonald's All American in 2023. During the 2004-2005 season, he was hospitalized with ulcerative colitis. Averaging 40 points per game over the course of a season in high school basketball is hard. But the chemistry didnt come right away. 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. 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. 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. Verga went from St. Rose High School in Belmar to Duke, where he set a scoring record, to the ABA in 1967. 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 . Follow him on Twitter@StevePoliti. He basically shoots like me, maybe hes built like me but he plays like his dad because he attacks that basket, either hand.. Today, many of its rowhouse neighborhoods are gap-toothed, marked by vacant homes and litter-strewn lots. As recently as 1970, Camden was majority white, but the city is now 93% Black and Hispanic. worked out under his father's tutelage, learning some of the game's subtleties, and becoming a standout wherever he played. By the time he got to The High, the son was prepared to continue the Wagner tradition. Ford, who played at Holy Family Spirit High in Absecon, is better known as a head coach than as a player. . Just as a stunned crowd in a Camden High gym did almost 40 years earlier. High School: Camden High School. Only two players in NBA history have done it and they are both named Wilt Chamberlain. "Going to the NBA is almost like hitting the lottery," Miller says. 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. 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. First I got to see my son play and then its like reincarnation all over again, watch him do the same thing. Youve lived a long life in terms of, basketball wise, you did a lot, so why not help them? "But to see a kid like that doing something for himself and doing something for the community is a great thing. The pride of Bloomfield carved out an impressive 10-year career in the NBA after playing collegiately for Notre Dame, scoring 12,142 points -- that's 17.2 a game -- while twice being chosen for the All-Star Game. David Wingate left for Georgetown at seasons end, and guard Gary Graham went to UNLV. Our capsules show the matchups along with the Net Rating, Offensive Rating and Defensive Rating for each team. [12], His coach, John Calipari, revoked Wagner's scholarship after his freshman year to force him to enter the NBA, because Calipari believed that Wagner should not avoid the money he would receive as a first-round draft pick.[13][14]. The 2016 Rookie of the Year has started all of the 164 games in his career so far, and last season averaged 25.1 points and 12.3 rebounds for the Timberwolves. FindNJ.com on Facebook. arrived on the Camden High squad in 2019 as it was going through a particularly frustrating stretch. But most of Camden's factories shut down long ago, choking off key routes to working-class prosperity and helping to trigger an exodus. Derek Jeter, Mike Trout and other stars top the list. But he was also, more importantly, a loyal friend, a proud father, and a loving husband. Wagner was a sensation from the start, helping to lead the Panthers to a 29-1 record in his freshman year. 12 overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. On that night in 2015, in that high-rise lounge overlooking the city, Muggsy walked into his surprise birthday party and unexpected wedding. "I take a lot of pride in playing for Camden," he says. 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. UPDATED -- 6/21. The Plainfield native was a college superstar, leading Duke to a NCAA championship (2001) and winning the Naismith Player of the Year Award (2002). 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. A former NBA player and coach, Brunson has been Camden's coach for one season. Few schoolboy players were more thrilling to watch than the Camden native, who scored 100 points in a game and led his public-school team to a state title. in that heritage. On October 12, 2015, he attempted to return to basketball and planned to sign with the AmeriLeague. Brunson will replace Vic Carstarphen, his former teammate at Temple. Theyd have to toss aside former rivalries and childhood differences. 1 prospect D.J. He finished the season averaging 35.3 points per game,[2] and won the ESPN Sophomore of the Year award. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Theyre great. The sport became their safe haven, and the indoor recreation center their sanctuary. 's name. He also cherished the connections he built with his players. Along the way, he played in nearly 800 games and twice played in the NBA Finals. Camden High School, Camden (NJ) Basketball Players - RealGM "Kentucky-bound DJ Wagnercontinued his outstanding spring with two strong days of practice at Iverson Classic," wrote ESPN's Jonathan Givony on Twitter. Updated on Jun 5, 2019, 12:14 p.m. Steve Politi | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, Looking back on their departure to Brooklyn, Derek Jeter, Mike Trout and other stars top the list, He helped bring down an athletic department, Steve Pikiell's team showing signs of progress, Franco Harris, Joe Theisman and other stars. Wagner stands 6-foot-1 but has a loose-limbed build and youthful features. 22 overall, even Wade was a bit in disbelief, but also quite proud of his former players. High school career [ edit] And it was that disrespect that drew Muggsy to basketball. As a freshman, Wagner averaged 18.5 points en route to earning MaxPreps Freshman All-American honors. They hope to see him on top someday, the biggest star Camden has produced in its long line of prodigies. Camden named a street outside the school after the team's first big star, Ron "Itchy" Smith. Basketball became a source of pride for kids in the inner city. "I got drafted but winning the state championship for my city, that was the best," Dajuan told SLAM Magazine in 2020. He was an eighth-grader competing for a middle school championship the first time he played a real game on the court at Camden High School. How can we rank a player this high after just two seasons? SPECIAL THANKS to Dave D'Alessandro, the longtime NBAwriter at The Star-Ledger, who is without a doubt New Jersey's finest all-time basketballwriter. The house would be packed with hundreds of onlookers to see Bogues, Williams, Wingate, and Lewis go at it. Select the players you wish to trade from the rosters below. That's when not even he could take another game . Wagner has said he plans to attend college before going pro. At the rec center, a certain, shorter, high-energy player drew his attention. I was being, in my opinion, selfish. He played one year of college basketball at the University of Memphis. Each era has its uniqueness. Dajuan Marquett "D. But despite his NBA success, Bogues best memories playing basketball were actually long before. D.J. 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. has echoed at Panthers games for decades. 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. [2], On January 16, 2001 he scored 100 points against Camden County Tech. Coming into the tournament, the Scholars, which includes Wagner and three other Camden High players, is among the best on the summer circuit. This was Carstarphen and Brown's junior year. But fans watching will recognize some of the top lineups in the nation, playing under team names inspired by their high schools. The first family of Camden basketball: Freshman guard D.J. He led the Panthers to a 29-1 record and their first South Jersey Group 2 title since 2017. It's evidence of a family legacy that he has both inherited and made his own. Regardless of the investigation, Camden is ready for another championship, another season of glory for D.J. Melchionni, who starred at Bishop Eustace Prep in Pennsauken, was a reserve on the 1967 NBA champion 76ers before moving to the ABA, where he played seven years for the Nets. The West Orange native was the No. 1 in the 2023 rankings, Wagner finishes ranked No. The 7-foot-1 star also ranks third all-time in field goal percentage (58.2). YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. The Panthers' victory, however, came with a side of controversy.