What makes DJ Wagner so good? Expert analyst explains highlights of Wagner’s best skills.
The recruitment of DJ Wagner has finally reached its conclusion: Wagner will be a Kentucky Wildcat, having announced his commitment to the UK program on Monday afternoon.
Wagner’s commitment to John Calipari and the Cats likely brings a close to Kentucky’s five-player recruiting class for 2023, while also vaulting UK to the top of next year’s team recruiting rankings.
All five players have been announced by Kentucky as future Wildcats.
While there’s plenty to be written about what the combo guard’s commitment to Kentucky means in the short and long term — as well as the value of fending off Louisville for Wagner’s commitment — it’s also worth taking a moment to first analyze Wagner as a player, and to explain what makes the highly decorated high school senior from New Jersey such a sought after talent.
Wagner has already played in the commonwealth this year: In May, the New Jersey Scholars (which boast both Wagner and fellow class of 2023 UK commit Aaron Bradshaw) played at the Nike EYBL event in Louisville.
The Herald-Leader captured nearly three minutes of highlights from the New Jersey Scholars’ game against Brad Beal Elite during that event, a contest in which Wagner had 14 points and five assists while playing a team-high 32 minutes.
Contained within these highlights are examples of what makes the 6-foot-3, 165-pound Wagner such a dynamic basketball player.
The Herald-Leader asked Pro Insight Basketball analyst Alex Brown what stuck out to him about Wagner on offense from these highlights, and how that will project for Kentucky starting next season.
Here’s a play-by-play breakdown of what Wagner will bring offensively to the Wildcats.
This play is at the 0:28 mark of the complete DJ Wagner highlight video.
Brown: There are quite a few mistakes that occur in this possession, and DJ navigates them well. This play is a clogged, late-clock action where (No. 24) Mackenzie Mgbako sets a deep hammer screen all the way at the elbow on (No. 1) Layden Blocker to free up the eventual strongside corner three-point shot, with the secondary and tertiary options of hitting the roller (No. 2 Aaron Bradshaw) or the lifting weakside wing for a three-pointer.
Since Blocker dies badly on the screen due to ball watching, Brad Beal Elite’s big (No. 44 Lathan Sommerville) has to make a decision to either commit to giving up Bradshaw’s tagged roll — and mismatch — or the corner three-pointer. DJ realizes this, and uses his eyes once again to freeze the big, who takes just a half-step toward Bradshaw, giving the corner shooter a more comfortable window to fire.
While this isn’t a well-executed action by the New Jersey Scholars (or Brad Beal Elite), DJ hits the primary read and uses his eyes to ensure its success in an open shot. There are naturally levels to rise as a processor in the halfcourt offense, but DJ’s ability to manipulate help and find shooters will help him fit seamlessly alongside future UK backcourt partner Robert Dillingham.
This play is at the 1:40 mark of the complete DJ Wagner highlight video.
Brown: When it comes to beating a single help defender or a broken defense, DJ continues to excel as a passer by manipulating help with his eyes.
In this clip, DJ uses his burst and change of pace to beat a defense attempting to ice him in pick and roll, then is put into a situation where he can either hit (No. 24) Mackenzie Mgbako for the weakside corner three or dump it off to (No. 0) David Tubek.
DJ navigates this by freezing the weakside help defender with his eyes, causing him to jump in place and allowing for the easy drop off to Tubek. Additionally, this read opens up due to (No. 1) Layden Blocker not being in the play, inevitably causing the weakside low man to have to defend both Tubek and Mgbako.
Naturally that doesn’t end well for Brad Beal Elite, and DJ is consistently able to capitalize on these opportunities at a high level.
This play is at the 2:22 mark of the complete DJ Wagner highlight video.
Brown: DJ’s versatility as a dynamic guard shows up here as well. Along with being able to carry some lead guard responsibilities — especially against a tilted or broken defense — DJ can also excel at playing off the ball.
Here, he runs off a pin down and immediately attacks the middle of the floor, creating another 2-on-1 situation where he could finish or hit the drop-off to (No. 2) Aaron Bradshaw. DJ chooses to finish with ease here using his superior athleticism and finishing touch.
As a guard that is able to make that dump-off read, finish at the rim and hit a pull-up jumper, I would expect DJ to get plenty of chances to attack in off-ball actions, especially with how creative John Calipari could get in putting him in advantageous situations where he can make a read against a tilted defense or just break it himself.
Overall, DJ’s ability to create an advantage with the ball in his hands in pick-and-roll or off-the-catch situations while being able to capitalize as both a scorer and power-play passer makes him the ideal do-it-all combo guard for Kentucky and a promising NBA piece.
This story was originally published November 14, 2022 at 3:26 PM.
