1 player in the class of 2023, drops Bronny James before connecting on his jump shot. 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. Billy Thompson (basketball) - Wikipedia Ron "Itchy" Smith, legendary Camden High basketball player, dies He didnt realize he was walking into a surprise birthday party, with a crowd of anxious family and friends around the corner. Wagner (0:27), Hoops hotbed Camden is ready for No. Just 14, he probably isnt finished growing. The sport became their safe haven, and the indoor recreation center their sanctuary. Raymond Townsend - Wikipedia Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. 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. Of all his achievements, Dajuan counts winning the state championship at Camden High as his most memorable basketball moment. First, some ground rules. Bogues had to spend his freshman year at Southern High an hour away from the Lafayette projects. Camden High School, Camden (NJ) Basketball Players - RealGM CAMDEN The signals keep mounting that Joel Embiid will not be available for Game 1 of the NBA Eastern Conference semifinals Monday due to a sprained right knee ligament. … I want to put my dreams on hold to make sure my kids who I started with reached their dreams.. But college recruiting was no easy field. 7. Whenever Lafayette and Cecil went up against each other, the whole city would come and fill the gym. Brunson played college basketball for the Temple Owls . [3] In his sophomore year, Dajuan played in 17 games and had a new career-high of 57 points against Pennsauken Tech on January 26. That's when not even he could take another game . The 7-foot-1 star also ranks third all-time in field goal percentage (58.2). Wade could sense the talent in Muggsy and his friends, and he knew that all of these guys would be in high school around the same time. At the rec center, a certain, shorter, high-energy player drew his attention. (Photo credit: YouTube) Rick Brunson, the former NBA player and assistant coach, spent the last three years as the head basketball coach of the Camden High School Panthers. [11] On November 14, 2022, Wagner committed to the University of Kentucky, deciding over Louisville. Confirm that your trade proposal is valid according to the NBA collective bargaining agreement. Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. And he made it a point to steep D.J. He wants everybody else to do well.. The Newark native has appeared in 752 games in the NBA during his career, averaging 10.3 points and 2.8 assists. If you have or know of an interesting story to tell, reach out on Twitter at @JFriedman57 or via email at jfriedman2@gannettnj.com. Wingate, Lewis, and Reggie Williams all transferred to Dunbar, but Muggsy was held up a year in 1980. Thompson played basketball at Camden High School in New Jersey, where he was a two-time high school All-American. The players either moved to the city or attended magnet schools as out-of-district students. So, on the fly, he did a 360-degree turn and threw an alley-oop pass behind his neck. Wagner has said he plans to attend college before going pro. Born in Caldwell, Henderson was the No. All rights reserved. and the Wagner basketball legacy before he starts his climb up the basketball pyramid. Camden officials have denied the allegations, saying the out-of-district enrollments were handled properly. [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. Hes a respectful kid. The Jersey City native, who starred at St. Anthony High and then Seton Hall, went on to have a productive four-year NBA career. And it was that disrespect that drew Muggsy to basketball. He finished the season averaging 35.3 points per game,[2] and won the ESPN Sophomore of the Year award. 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. I get to see my grandson play. Dunbar won the Baltimore City Schools championship and went on to win the state title finishing the year a pristine 29-0. D.J. It kept hitting me, those kids dreams are more important than yours, Brunson said. Thats what I noticed at Camden High.. Brunson, a nine-year NBA veteran who served as an assistant with the Denver Nuggets, Chicago Bulls, Charlotte Bobcats and Minnesota Timberwolves before joining the Panthers, is the reigning South Jersey Coach of the Year. [3], The following year he played in 28 games. 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. "Honestly, when our basketball program is going, you can see the difference in the community. He appeared in more than 400 games, mostly with the Clippers, and averaged 8.2 points a game. Carstarphen resigned after one season to focus on a run for Camden . The West Orange native was the No. Before D.J. Its an unbelievable feeling.. Wagner was named New Jersey's high school basketball player of the year. Camden High School, NJ: 2023: 1: Justin Edwards: Imhotep Charter School, PA: 2023: 2: . Camden High School's new head basketball coach Maalik Wayns instructs his players during the boys basketball game between Camden and Rancocas Valley . "To see everybody in those shirts walking around out here, that means a lot to me," he tells the audience. D.J. The 7-footer from Union Citywas part of the franchise's 1974 championship and played for nine seasons in the NBA. ET. In his rookie season he averaged 13.4 points per game and shot 36.9% from the field. 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. Sixers-Celtics NBA playoff series: How Philly has navigated its long break He was drafted 6th overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2002 NBA draft. But photos of . NBA players, you manage their time. 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. It's evidence of a family legacy that he has both inherited and made his own. Its why he recently submitted his resignation as Camden High Schools boys basketball coach. Although D.J. Add you thoughts in the comments section or send them directly to columnist Steve Politi atspoliti@njadvancemedia.com. He felt it was the right time to start pursuing those aims. Like every top high school senior in the country, he will soon have to prove himself beyond the safe embrace of home. Their legacy of producing four NBA players off the same team only makes the team's high school accomplishments more special as time passes. Galis, a Union City native, had a brilliant career in Europe. . Wagner was a sensation from the start, helping to lead the Panthers to a 29-1 record in his freshman year. "I got drafted but winning the state championship for my city, that was the best," Dajuan told SLAM Magazine in 2020. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. 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. Theyd have to toss aside former rivalries and childhood differences. Camden is set to play Sierra Canyon of Los Angeles in a game that would match rising sophomores D.J. But it is truly part of our fabric," Carstarphen says. "Coach John Calipariwas always straightforward and honest with me," Wagner said. People of all ages pack the bleachers at home games and a large contingent of Panthers fans follows the team on the road. 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 led the Panthers to a 29-1 record in 2019-20, including a season-ending, 25-game winning streak. 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. 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. Camden closed last season on a 25-game winning streak, was named the South Jersey Team of the Year and finished No. Why DJ Wagner, college basketball's No. 1 recruit in high school class in that heritage. This was Turner's last state championship team. Josh Friedman has produced award-winning South Jersey sports coverage for the Courier Post and The Daily Journal for more than a decade. This page was last edited on 25 April 2023, at 22:03. When Dajuan started helping the Panthers, D.J. No more rumors until I decide to say, hey, Im leaving. Wagner, who signed with the Wildcats during the early period, chose Kentucky over archrival Louisville. 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. The primary knock against Ayton is that he wants more. And hes still famously recognized as the shortest player to have ever played in the league. Wagner at the start of his high school career are similar to the excitement in the city when Dajuan Wagner took the court for the Panthers in the fall of 1997. Wagner was hampered by injuries and health problems thereafter. "This is a poor city; it was really, really bad at one time," says Kevin Cooke, who attended The High in the 1980s. 91; 247Sports Composite . I made a mistake. Looking back on their departure to Brooklyn. Now they will do battle in an unexpected series. In these cases, the average was taken. The city's population dwindled from 124,000 in 1950 to 72,000 in 2021, and one-third of its residents live in poverty. 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. Through the decline and rebirth, the Panthers' dominance has been a constant and the team is woven through the fabric of the city. The Panthers finally broke through last season, winning the 2022 state championship. When the small-of-stature Muggsy was announced in the starting lineup, the whole Camden High gym laughed and jeered. 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. That is like all we got here: Camden High School basketball. But despite his NBA success, Bogues best memories playing basketball were actually long before. D.J. "Going to the NBA is almost like hitting the lottery," Miller says. The following year, in the 1982-83 season, Dunbar picked up right where they left off, and further solidified themselves as a national powerhouse. I would say I dont see anyone quite like the game I played but Patrick (Beverley) and Rondo are the closest.. D.J. Averaging 40 points per game over the course of a season in high school basketball is hard. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. He never started more than 20 games in a season after that, but he played through 2011 before retiring. He averaged a career-low 4.0 points in 11 games played during the 200405 season, and was hospitalized for ulcerative colitis. Winning comes first with me and I want to help Kentucky win as much as possible.". The city threw a victory parade for the Panthers, as well as three other city teams that won championships in other sports. I gave them my word, Im totally committed, Brunson said. Deng, a Sudanese who moved to New Jersey when he was 14 and enrolled at Blair Academy, is a two-time NBA All-Star entering his 14th season in the NBA. Between games, he laughs with his teammates, peeks in on the competition and cheers on Scholars squads playing in younger age divisions. People still talk to me about that game," Milt Wagner said. 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. Select the second team from the drop down menu. 6 pick in the NBA draft in 2002. D.J. 786. Im coming there to win. [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. But he was also, more importantly, a loyal friend, a proud father, and a loving husband. 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 wouldn't have thought it would [have] ever been a doubt," says Wasim Muhammad, who heads the school advisory board. The Roselle Park native won a championship with the Golden State Warriors in 1975 and was named NBA Finals MVP. After an introduction by the school board president, Wagner takes the microphone and thanks the crowd. They took Coach Wades words to heart. But we gave it a shot with the top baseball players in New Jersey history, so we'll do our best again. The Newark native's career began humbly at Burlington County College ended with 658 career games in the NBA. Wagner recorded 4 points and 1 assist. Today, many of its rowhouse neighborhoods are gap-toothed, marked by vacant homes and litter-strewn lots. 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. 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. 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. "That was a big thrill.". Wagner has committed to the University of Kentucky, joining Big Blue Nation for the 2023-24 season. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. 12 in the 1987 Draft and is the shortest player ever to play in the NBA. He was born here. Choose at least two teams from the menus below to start your trade. Boasting four future NBA players, the Poets took the life out of their opponents and their gyms. The Lafayette projects were just a quick stroll away from Dunbar High, and Wade knew of the troubles and struggles that his kids faced on a daily basis. Same hype. 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. I tell him thats what determines great players. He became the second youngest player to enter a game in NBA history when he first stepped on the court in 1975, but skipping college out of Dwight Morrow High in Englewood might not have been the best decision. If anyone dropped a brick, everyone would have to start over. The 5-foot-10 guard was lightly recruited out of Seton Hall Prep, but he went onto have an outstanding career at Stanford before becoming a reliable ball handler in the NBA who averaged 7.3 points and 6.1 assists a game during a 13-year career. Milt Wagner grew up in Camden and played in the city's youth leagues. High School: Camden High School. They had met back in Muggyss hometown when he was back at his old high school, before his NBA fame and retirement. Get as Excel Workbook. I got parents crying, he said. 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. McCaffery: In Doc Rivers, Sixers enjoy a golden advantage over Celtics "I wear Camden on my chest wherever I go. 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. I wanted to go do something for me instead of doing something for them. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. After spending the majority of his high school career at No. He returned the embrace. Last year, when Camden County needed help getting more people vaccinated against COVID-19, it called on D.J. Brunson is back for this season and the foreseeable future. Wade wanted to establish hard-working habits that they didnt get from their environment outside of school walls. "Above all he is a competitor. Or write about sports? Wilt Chamberlain had 100. The Elizabeth native, known for an ever-present headband after he suffered a serious head injury as a child, played for eight different teams during his 12-season career. Hype erupts around Sierra Canyon's Juju Watkins. He played at the point guard position. He still has a teenager's slim build, and what sets him apart is not necessarily his size or athleticism, recruiters say, but his savvy understanding of how to set the pace of a game. Wagner was chosen with the sixth overall pick of the 2002 NBA draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers. Camden basketball team to play Sierra Canyon at 2021 HoopHall Classic By the time he got to The High, the son was prepared to continue the Wagner tradition. All rights reserved. Dajuan Wagner may arguably be the greatest high school player in New Jersey history. Son: A long family lineage continues as father Dajuan Wagner scored 3,451 career points and his grandfather Milt Wagner scored 2,003 career points, with both resulting in state championships for Camden. Former Villanova star Maalik Wayns expected to be coach of Camden Everyone's excited, happy. (79 kg). Some of the legends of the sport have learned to play on our playgrounds and for our high school teams. With more eyes now looking to Baltimore, Coach Wade had put together a national schedule, and the Poets rolled to a perfect 31-0. 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. They retired his No. High school career [ edit] When Lewis went No. Youve lived a long life in terms of, basketball wise, you did a lot, so why not help them? 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. many NBA First Round Draft Picks, College All-Americans and McDonald's All-Americans. there was Dajuan, and before Dajuan, there was Milt. In 81-82, the Poets stars consisted of two pairs of close childhood friends. [10], In the middle of his junior season, Wagner saw his ranking of number one player in the class of 2023 drop to third by Rivals after holding the reign of consensus number one pick in the class of 2023 for two years since 2020. He also broke the record for points in a single season for Memphis with 762. It just kind of flows over.". You got The High!" Finishing 59-0 over two seasons, those Dunbar teams were a force. [12], Wagner is the son of Dajuan Wagner and Syreeta Brittingham. Camden earned New Jersey Boys Basketball Team of the Year honors by NJ.com.[8]. I think hes really tries to put that effort out there to do that, make his guys around him better.. Send along your thoughts. Distanced both physically and figuratively, Bogues was itching until the day he could rejoin his friends. As a freshman, he once scored 45 points in a game and as a senior he went for 100. He wants to lead an NBA franchise. Ranking them is, of course, virtually impossible. Rick Brunson changes course, returns as Camden basketball coach Since retiring in 2001, Muggsy has coached in the WNBA, coached high school basketball, and been a team ambassador for the Charlotte Hornets. Eric Daniel Brunson [1] (born June 14, 1972) is an American basketball coach for the New York Knicks and former professional player. [4][5] At the end of the season he had an average of 31.9 points per game. But fans watching will recognize some of the top lineups in the nation, playing under team names inspired by their high schools. Wagner is considered a five-star recruit by 247Sports, ESPN and Rivals . 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. Reggie Williams caught it in mid-flight and slammed it home. Milt Wagner said he hoped to attend as many Camden games as possible this season. His advice to kids today? 1 and it isn't Bronny", "Son of former Memphis star Dajuan Wagner excels at USA", "Basketball is a Passion Three Generations in the Making for Dajuan Wagner Jr", "Boys basketball: D.J. 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. Wagner Jr. (born May 4, 2005) is an American basketball player who attends Camden High School in Camden, New Jersey. Camden native now lives out of the spotlight. , I love the game today, he said. Leaving the Panthers felt more like a nightmare. The slender 6-foot-5 shooting guard led the Panthers to the 1979 New Jersey state championship before going on to star for the Louisville Cardinals, leading them to three Final Fours and the 1986 national championship. Purdue can lose Zach Edey to 2023 NBA draft and reach 2024 Final Four In an area where most kids dont expect to live past 20, Bogues and Williams retreated to basketball. Its rumored that Coach Wade laid a punch or two on recruiters who tried to do his players dirty. And those are the legacies that last long after the shine of the hardwood fades away. 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 Dajuan Wagner take the court for the Panthers as a freshman in the late 1990s. arrived on the Camden High squad in 2019 as it was going through a particularly frustrating stretch. Brunson, who served as a substitute teacher at Camden High last year, fell in love working with high school students, something hed never done previously. Wagner scored 15 points in his debut for the Panthers. Ford, who played at Holy Family Spirit High in Absecon, is better known as a head coach than as a player.
