No. 1 recruit DJ Wagner commits to Kentucky

DJ Wagner, the No. 1 recruit on the ESPN 100 for 2023, announced his commitment to Kentucky on social media Monday.

The 6-foot-3 combo guard had narrowed his list of suitors to the Wildcats and Louisville, as he has ties to both schools.

DJ's father, Dajuan Wagner Sr., played for Kentucky head coach John Calipari at Memphis during the 2001-02 campaign. His stepbrother, Kareem Watkins, is currently in his junior year with the Wildcats.

Meanwhile, Louisville hired DJ's grandfather, Milt, as its director of player development and alumni relations last May. Milt and new Cardinals bench boss Kenny Payne were teammates on the school's 1985-86 national championship squad.

However, speculation that Wagner would pick Kentucky gained steam when the teenager signed a NIL deal with Nike, the Wildcats' longtime apparel sponsor. Louisville is currently in the middle of a 10-year, $160-million deal with Adidas.

"Coach John Calipari was always straightforward and honest with me," Wagner told ESPN's Paul Biancardi. "He said he would be with me until the wheels fall off the car either way. And that meant so much to me."

Wagner headlines another impressive freshman class for Calipari that features fellow top-10 recruits Justin Edwards, Aaron Bradshaw, and Robert Dillingham.

Wagner is looking to become the first third-generation NBA player. The New Jersey native averaged 19.8 points, 4.3 boards, 3.2 steals, and 3.1 assists en route to leading Camden High to the 2021-22 Group 2 State championship.

Wagner was a member of USA Basketball's gold-medal squad at the FIBA U17 World Cup last July.

"I'm coming there to win," Wagner told Biancardi. "Winning comes first with me, and I want to help Kentucky win as much as possible."