Rutgers fans, however, will never forget his stint as part of the basketball staff, which led to the Mike Rice fiasco. "Above all he is a competitor. In 81-82, the Poets stars consisted of two pairs of close childhood friends. In an area where most kids dont expect to live past 20, Bogues and Williams retreated to basketball. That goes back the credit to his mom (Syreeta Brittingham) and dad, they raised him well. 6. Wagner's son, Dajuan Wagner Jr., was ranked the No. [6] He went on to score 50 or more points 4 more times during the season, and averaged 42.5 points in 29 games played as a senior. Whenever Lafayette and Cecil went up against each other, the whole city would come and fill the gym. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. During his tenure, Brunson boasted a 73-4 record and ignited the Panthers' resurgence on the national high school basketball scene. They hope to see him on top someday, the biggest star Camden has produced in its long line of prodigies. Bogues had to spend his freshman year at Southern High an hour away from the Lafayette projects. Putting a list together like this is an inexact science. . The Perth Amboy native is a two-time ABA champion who successfully made the transition to the NBA, where he averaged a career-high 17 points a game for the Kansas City Kings in 1976. 91; 247Sports Composite . They always had each others backs something Muggsy didnt get elsewhere on the court because of his size. Wagner was hampered by injuries and health problems thereafter. The Newark native's career began humbly at Burlington County College ended with 658 career games in the NBA. He is the son of a former professional basketball player Dajuan Wagner and grandson of professional player "Ice Man" Milt Wagner.He is a consensus five-star recruit and one of the top players in the 2023 recruiting class. Select the second team from the drop down menu. Allen, who played at Shawnee High in Medford, started 73 games for the 2002-03 Miami Heat in his second professional season. They retired his No.. Who did we miss entirely? 6 pick in the 2002 NBA draft, but injury and illness derailed his career. All rights reserved. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. 1979 (25-4). [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. He led the Panthers to a 29-1 record and their first South Jersey Group 2 title since 2017. Todays players are skilled, large but agileThe game is faster today. The Lenape High graduate went from Rider University to the first round of the 2008 NBA Draft. I can relate to these kids. . The gymnasium bears the name of coach Turner, who led the Panthers to seven state championships, and the team plays on Dajuan Wagner Court. The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame's Hoophall Classic annually features the top high school players and teams from around the country. Each era has its uniqueness. Wagner, the No. But the pandemic halted the school's drive for a state championship. Before he inherited his winningest teams, Wade would walk over to watch the kids in the area play. 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. many NBA First Round Draft Picks, College All-Americans and McDonald's All-Americans. ET. 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. His shirtless celebration after the Cavaliers won the 2016 championship -- with Smith starting all 21 playoff games -- became a big deal on social media. Born in Caldwell, Henderson was the No. Do you have a blog? With more eyes now looking to Baltimore, Coach Wade had put together a national schedule, and the Poets rolled to a perfect 31-0. Wagner (left), his grandfather Milt Wagner (center) and his father Dajuan after Camden's 72-52 win over Gratz on Friday. Still, he won a championship with the Boston Celtics in 1981, and is credited for hitting the first 3-point shot in NBA history. During his playing career, he was listed at 6'3" (1.91 m) tall and 175 lbs. But he averaged 18.7 points and 11.8rebounds a game, becoming one of the sport's most dominant big men before knee injuries destroyed his career. He moved back to Camden, reconnected with The High and began training his son in the family business. He felt it was the right time to start pursuing those aims. 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. Get table as CSV (for Excel) Get Link to Table. Or write about sports? June 23, 2022. There is no bigger name in this hoops loving city, where over the decades "Wagner" has become synonymous with championships. A former NBA player and coach, Brunson has been Camden's coach for one season. During the 2004-2005 season, he was hospitalized with ulcerative colitis. Dajuan Wagner scored a state-record, 3,462 points in his Camden career. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale. 167 Players. 786. Derek Jeter, Mike Trout and other stars top the list. The following year, in the 1982-83 season, Dunbar picked up right where they left off, and further solidified themselves as a national powerhouse. Always ridiculed and looked over, he found that the sport could earn him the currency of the land: respect. In these cases, the average was taken. If anyone dropped a brick, everyone would have to start over. Well, these have been two ridiculous seasons for the Piscataway native and St. Joseph's (Metuchen) star. From 1981 to 1983, Dunbar High was the most powerful team in high school basketball. Even Camden star Billy Thompson was laughing along. The Jersey City native became a college star at Duke, leading the Blue Devils to back-to-back NCAA titles as their floor general. . The Panthers' victory, however, came with a side of controversy. Not many dispute it. the official stats partner of the NBA, NHL and MLB. While the winter season is up in the air because of COVID, Brunson is thrilled to represent the purple and gold once again. The6-foot-11 center, nicknamed the Whopper, is a member of the ABA All-Time team. "Coach John Calipariwas always straightforward and honest with me," Wagner said. Milt Wagner said the expectations that surround D.J. And hes still famously recognized as the shortest player to have ever played in the league. The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame honoree was a part of eight NBA championships with the Boston Celtics as a player and two more as a coach. Ford, who played at Holy Family Spirit High in Absecon, is better known as a head coach than as a player. Many recruiters were known to be corrupt, especially as drug dealers started to sponsor basketball teams in the area. He averaged 13.4 points for Cleveland as a rookie before illness and injuries ended his professional career. "That is the bright light in our city that everybody gets behind.". You can also contact him at 856-486-2431. CAMDEN, N.J. - Pat Croce rarely saw anything that could ruin his feel-great spirit, but he would make an exception in the 1997 NBA offseason. Hype erupts around Sierra Canyon's Juju Watkins. It just kind of flows over.". Wagner was named New Jersey's high school basketball player of the year. "That was a big thrill.". Brunson is back for this season and the foreseeable future. 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. Coach Wade pounced on that, and preached teamwork and togetherness. Regardless of the investigation, Camden is ready for another championship, another season of glory for D.J. Todays players are skilled, large but agileThe game is faster today. Earlier this fall, state athletic officials banned a New Jersey high school from this year's football playoffs and placed it on a two-year probation for improperly recruiting a rival player. The Metro Classic basketball tournament has featured some of the best teams and top high . WHYY thanks our sponsors become a WHYY sponsor. "Honestly, when our basketball program is going, you can see the difference in the community. The 48-year-old Washington Township resident reached out to the school and rescinded his resignation. He averaged a career-low 4.0 points in 11 games played during the 200405 season, and was hospitalized for ulcerative colitis. Ranking: 247Sports - No. Everyone's excited, happy. Mar 4, 2021, 11:30am. joined him at practice. Today, many of its rowhouse neighborhoods are gap-toothed, marked by vacant homes and litter-strewn lots. Camden's school superintendent is a former cheerleader at The High. 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. The 6-10 forward with a soft-shooting touch from Paterson never quite lived up to the lofty expectations when he arrived in the NBA, but he played for seven different teams during a productive 13-year NBA career. arrived on the Camden High squad in 2019 as it was going through a particularly frustrating stretch. Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Monday, May 1, 4:39AM. ", 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. But he was also, more importantly, a loyal friend, a proud father, and a loving husband. While he only played in the NBA for one season, many believed that Hill --one of the greatest basketball players in Newark history -- was reportedly blackballed by the 1961-62 St. Louis Hawks in order to let the star white players score more points. Send along your thoughts. "There is no Camden High basketball without the Wagners," says Antoine Miller, a former teammate of Dajuan's, who runs the Camden Elite AAU program. With Bogues and Williams from Lafayette, and Wingate and Lewis from Cecil, the bad blood was on display right away. [2] For his senior year he debuted on December 15 scoring 36 points against Eastern, followed by a 50-points performance against Bishop Eustace. 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. The Cavaliers did not exercise their option on his contract for the 200506 season and subsequently Wagner was out of the league. 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 won an NBA title with the Los Angeles Lakers in 1988 before playing overseas. [6], Coached by former NBA player Rick Brunson,[7] Wagner helped lead Camden to 25 consecutive victories before the team's season was ended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. Dajuan Marquett "D. His advice to kids today? [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. Fans look down from a walking track on a higher floor, intent on sizing Wagner up. 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. All rights reserved. I fell in love with the community, the fans, the students., More: South Jersey Football Mean 15 Rankings for Nov. 8. He never started more than 20 games in a season after that, but he played through 2011 before retiring. The only place he wanted to be was Camden. But despite his NBA success, Bogues best memories playing basketball were actually long before. 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. 6 overall according to the industry average 247Sports Composite. Eric Daniel Brunson [1] (born June 14, 1972) is an American basketball coach for the New York Knicks and former professional player. After an introduction by the school board president, Wagner takes the microphone and thanks the crowd. Some of the legends of the sport have learned to play on our playgrounds and for our high school teams. 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. Youre all good parents, I got the best parents. Camden native now lives out of the spotlight. When Dajuan started helping the Panthers, D.J. They retired his No. [16][17] Averaging 8.3 points in six games, he returned to South Jersey after hurting his hip and reinjuring his knee in Poland. He won a state title in 1979. Wagner is only a senior at Camden High School. 1 in the 2023 rankings, Wagner finishes ranked No. 11 by MaxPreps, but that was not the reason Brunson felt compelled to return. Select the players you wish to trade from the rosters below. I would say I dont see anyone quite like the game I played but Patrick (Beverley) and Rondo are the closest.. Wingate, Lewis, and Reggie Williams all transferred to Dunbar, but Muggsy was held up a year in 1980. In an era when many elite ballplayers choose to attend sports-first private schools or jump from school to school in search of better competition and more shine, Wagner says he never thought of playing anywhere else. As a freshman, Wagner averaged 18.5 points en route to earning MaxPreps Freshman All-American honors. in that heritage. Steve Pikiell's team showing signs of progress. "Kentucky-bound DJ Wagnercontinued his outstanding spring with two strong days of practice at Iverson Classic," wrote ESPN's Jonathan Givony on Twitter. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. After all, Muggsy was playing alongside guys hed been playing with and against his whole life. But college recruiting was no easy field. He is averaging 15.0 points and 6.1 rebounds a game. Choose at least two teams from the menus below to start your trade. Wagner stands 6-foot-1 but has a loose-limbed build and youthful features. His time on the Hornets is still well-remembered, with Bogues holding the franchise records for career assists and steals as of 2021. The basketball, his dad has that and the kid has a lot of natural tools, Milt Wagner said. The annual HoopHall Classic, which brings together many of the . Wagner came of age as a player at a time when his city was in a downward spiral, and even then, he could sense that Camden High basketball was a civic lifeline. 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. For Wagner, who is just a couple weeks removed from winning a gold medal with the U.S. team at the FIBA U-17 World Cup in Spain, the attention appears to be no big deal. Attles is still an ambassador for the Golden State franchise. [18] However, the league folded days later, after it was discovered that the founder was a con artist. And he made it a point to steep D.J. . Expanded Nav. But it is truly part of our fabric," Carstarphen says. "We are just out here to have fun, to have a good day and enjoy our time.". Although D.J. He's played eight seasons in the NBA. According to the report, the average cost to educate a student in the magnet schools attended by the basketball players is $22,348. Wilt Chamberlain had 100. NBA writer + video department at ClutchPoints | Follow me on Twitter @CalFongNBA. 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. and the Wagner basketball legacy before he starts his climb up the basketball pyramid. As the shortest player to ever play in the league, Bogues faced immense challenges at every level that he had to overcome. 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It kept hitting me, those kids dreams are more important than yours, Brunson said. Before D.J. They looked on with joy as Muggsy and Kim who met him at a Dunbar alumni game renewed their vows. That flash of brilliance was enough to put him on this list even if his professional career is a series of what-ifs, with Wagner appearing in just 103 games after scoring 13.4 points a game as a rookie. 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. Phil Anastasia prefers standing on the sidelines at high school football games on Friday nights to sitting in the press box at Eagles games on Sunday afternoons . And that's what we're gunning for with this project. Wagner scored 15 points in his debut for the Panthers. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. Even more surprising, he didnt realize he was walking into a surprise wedding his own. Pursuing those dreams didnt feel right. Camden High School's new head basketball coach Maalik Wayns instructs his players during the boys basketball game between Camden and Rancocas Valley . "Puts consistent pressure on opposing defenses with his handle, first step and smooth change of pace game, as well as his improved shooting and playmaking ability.". 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. Lines forms outside the gymnasium long before they take the court. The time off which was longer than the All-Star break and extended when the . became the linchpin in the effort to put The High back on top. Not many dispute it. could potentially make it.". grew up outside Camden in Gloucester County, many in the city always expected he would play for The High. He finished with 999 career assists. So, on the fly, he did a 360-degree turn and threw an alley-oop pass behind his neck. 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. 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. Basketball became a source of pride for kids in the inner city. Camden High School, Camden (NJ) Basketball Players - RealGM Take me, show me, lead me. "I wouldn't have thought it would [have] ever been a doubt," says Wasim Muhammad, who heads the school advisory board. Thompson was considered the number one high school prospect in the land. Camden High School (Camden, New Jersey), with players competing under the Camden Avalanche name, was banned from the NJSIAA state tournament in the wake of an on-court brawl that ended a county championship game. 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. [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. 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. Finishing 59-0 over two seasons, those Dunbar teams were a force. Dajuan Marquett Wagner Sr. (born February 4, 1983) is an American former professional basketball player. Former NBA player and coach Rick Brunson will be hired as the new basketball coach at Camden High School pending board of education approval, The Inquirer has learned. 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. 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. 50 years young and a family man, Tyrone Muggsy Bogues stepped into the 50th-floor lounge unassumingly. The Blair Academy graduate played for 11 years in the NBA, most recently for the Dallas Mavericks in the 2015-16 season. Its why he recently submitted his resignation as Camden High Schools boys basketball coach. CAMDEN, WHICH SITS on nine square miles just across the Delaware River from Philadelphia, was once renowned as a manufacturing hub, churning out products from Navy vessels and RCA Victor phonographs to Campbell's soup. He also has outstanding footwork, speed and balance. He is closing in on that with the Golden State Warriors now, where a player who averaged more than 20 points in back-to-back seasons has settled into a valuable bench presence. 1 basketball prospect in the Class of 2023, follows his father and grandfather as expected, the Wagners would become the first family with three generations of players in both the elite high school contest and the NBA. For Milt Wagner, the feeling was familiar. Theyre great. The Teaneck High graduate played in the NBA from 1984-97 and won a championship with the Detroit Pistons in 1988. After college, Wingate, Williams, Lewis, and Bogues were all drafted and migrated to the NBA. Also: N.J.'s 50 greatest baseball players. At the time, they celebrated his on-court brilliance. And Wagner's decision of where to play next doesn't just impact him. Its hard to put into words, Milt Wagner said after Camdens 72-52 victory before a capacity crowd at Woodrow Wilson High. Youve lived your life. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. They had to stop the entire game for a minute because everyone in the gym couldnt believe what they had just seen. 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. 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. Follow him on Twitter@StevePoliti. 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. [9] On January 24, 2023 Wagner became the first 3rd generation McDonald's All-American, joining both his father Dajuan and grandfather Milt. Thats unbelievable, Milt Wagner said. 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. If you have or know of an interesting story to tell, reach out on Twitter at @JFriedman57 or via email at jfriedman2@gannettnj.com. Youve lived a long life in terms of, basketball wise, you did a lot, so why not help them? The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. He wants to be a head college basketball coach. Do you have a sports website? Steve Politi may be reached atspoliti@njadvancemedia.com. Through the decline and rebirth, the Panthers' dominance has been a constant and the team is woven through the fabric of the city. The Plainfield native was a college superstar, leading Duke to a NCAA championship (2001) and winning the Naismith Player of the Year Award (2002). 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. It's evidence of a family legacy that he has both inherited and made his own. Wade was willing to do whatever it took to protect his players from the hostile, greed-infested environment outside of their gym. The 6-11 center averaged 7.8 rebounds a game during his career, and used those long arms to become one of the league's most effective shot blockers. Milt Wagner said his conversations with his grandson dont focus on any technical aspects of the sport. Williams headed to Georgetown, Reggie Lewis went to play for Northeastern, and Muggsy attended Wake Forest. A former NFL player, Wade implemented a military-like approach to his practices. [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]. Taking it upon himself to win this game, Bogues led Dunbar to a dominating victory, 84-59. The crowd exploded. No one knows your passion or heart like you do.. On Friday, Milt Wagner watched his grandson, D.J. The Newark native has emerged as strong rebounding forward during the first six years of his career, averaging 11.9 points and 8.5 rebounds a game. As recently as 1970, Camden was majority white, but the city is now 93% Black and Hispanic. They took Coach Wades words to heart. Still, if we included players who came to the state for college, it wouldn't really be a New Jersey list. Winning comes first with me and I want to help Kentucky win as much as possible.". Wagner is only a senior at Camden High School. "I have known DJ his entire life and Ive always wanted to coach him," head coach John Calipari said in November. He went back to school at Columbia after finishing his NBA career to get his degree.
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