DJ Wagner shines among stars, Camden basketball tops Imhotep in classic at St. Joseph's
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PHILADELPHIA – Dajuan Wagner didn’t notice any difference in his son’s play.
Neither did DJ Wagner’s head coach.
The Camden High School senior has taken over many games during his basketball career, so when Wagner did it again Saturday afternoon in front of a sold-out Hagan Arena at St. Joseph’s University, in a matchup of top 15 teams in the country, it felt like another day at the office to those closest to him.
“He was the same,” Dajuan Wagner said. “He was trying to go out there, win a game. He supposed to (take over).”
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It felt different though.
Wagner looked possessed over the final 8 minutes, 20 seconds, of the Panthers’ 60-57 triumph over Imhotep Charter.
“It just felt great,” said DJ, who scored 14 of his game-high 22 points over that stretch. “That’s the moments we all live for, playing games like this with crowds like this, just having the whole city out. All our passion showed in that second half of the game.”
The energy was electric throughout the week as Imhotep, MaxPreps’ No. 6 team in the country, prepared to face 11th-ranked Camden.
Tickets were gone days in advance as fans clamored for a high-school contest with mind-boggling talent.
ESPN’s No. 1 (Imhotep’s Justin Edwards), 2 (Wagner) and 4 (Camden’s Aaron Bradshaw) prospects in the Class of 2023 – each a McDonald’s All-American and Kentucky recruit – squared off with other Division-I recruits like Camden’s Cian Medley (St. Louis) and Cornelius Robinson (Albany), and Imhotep’s Rahmir Barno (Florida Gulf Coast). And then there were players with major offers like Camden’s Billy Richmond (Kentucky) and Imhotep’s Ahmad Nowell (Tennessee, Kansas).
“This is the type of stuff you dream of playing basketball,” Wagner said. “That’s what you practice, what you work for, games like this.”
All those players took turns in the spotlight, but it was Wagner that stole it when it mattered most.
Wagner wasn’t having a Wagner-esque game late in the third quarter. He had just 8 points, was struggling to get a look to fall and had a couple uncharacteristic turnovers.
Then came a turning point.
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In the final minute of the third, an Imhotep player clocked Wagner in the face as he went for the ball. No foul was called. Wagner wasn’t happy, and it was clear he wanted the ball back.
Wagner took the inbounds, went by two defenders, ran into two more in the paint and delivered an and-1 bucket. His hands were in fists as he walked away, talking to himself as Bradshaw tried to calm him down.
From that moment on, it was Wagner’s game. He crossed up defenders, drove the lane with aggression and grace and had fans on the edge of their seat waiting for an encore.
“He the real No. 1,” one yelled, referencing how Edwards had overtaken Wagner in the ESPN rankings.
Imhotep coach Andre Noble tried to game plan for Wagner, but Wagner wouldn’t be denied.
“When it’s money time, he gets aggressive,” Noble said. “We knew that. We were trying to keep him in our traps, but he just keeps coming. He doesn’t stop. He just doesn’t stop.”
Wagner called it his competitive spirit. Noble called Wagner “special.”
“That’s what we expect,” Wayns said. “We expect him to take over games.”
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Game notes
Edwards had a chance to win the game for Imhotep as he launched a 3-pointer with 5 seconds left, but it went long. He tallied 16 points and 10 rebounds.
It was a phenomenal back-and-forth affair as the largest lead by either team in the opening three quarters was just four points. Camden went up 55-48 with 1:05 left, but Imhotep still had a chance at the end.
Dasear Haskins was huge from the perimeter, knocking down 4-of-5 from outside and finishing with 14 points. “Dasear a star in my eyes,” Medley said. “He a star. He’s one of the best shooters in the country if you ask me.”
Camden made only one less triple than Imhotep, which Noble called a key to the game.
Medley was money in the opening half and finished with 13 points and 7 assists.
Nowell led Imhotep with 20 points and Barno netted 17.
Josh Friedman has produced award-winning South Jersey sports coverage for the Courier Post, The Daily Journal and the Burlington County Times for more than a decade. If you have or know of an interesting story to tell, reach out on Twitter at @JFriedman57 or via email at jfriedman2@gannettnj.com. You can also contact him at 856-486-2431. Help support local journalism with a subscription.
This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: DJ Wagner takes over late, Camden High basketball bests Imhotep
