The. But what no one knew at the time what no one dared dream was that they were witnessing four future high school stars, future college standouts, and eventually, future NBA players. The 48-year-old Washington Township resident reached out to the school and rescinded his resignation. From 1981 to 1983, Dunbar High was the most powerful team in high school basketball. He is averaging 15.0 points and 6.1 rebounds a game. Distanced both physically and figuratively, Bogues was itching until the day he could rejoin his friends. So, on the fly, he did a 360-degree turn and threw an alley-oop pass behind his neck. Thats what I noticed at Camden High.. The team started looking out for each other, and ego no longer was an issue. He carries a family name that brings pressure, built up over three generations, as well as the lofty expectations of a community that already salutes him as a star. In 81-82, the Poets stars consisted of two pairs of close childhood friends. They even crowded him for autographs afterwards. They rarely played against each other, or wanted to. Wagner is considered a five-star recruit by 247Sports, ESPN and Rivals . Sixers-Celtics NBA playoff series: How Philly has navigated its long break CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. The Panthers' victory, however, came with a side of controversy. 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. It didn't end well for the big Plainsboro native, who the Los Angeles Lakers surprisingly made a first-round pick out of St. Joseph (Metuchen) in 2005. The crowd exploded. He has languished on some bad teams during his 12 years as a pro, including the woeful Brooklyn Nets last season. Expanded Nav. The city threw a victory parade for the Panthers, as well as three other city teams that won championships in other sports. Wagner has committed to the University of Kentucky, joining Big Blue Nation for the 2023-24 season. They had to stop the entire game for a minute because everyone in the gym couldnt believe what they had just seen. After all, Muggsy was playing alongside guys hed been playing with and against his whole life. A former NBA player and coach, Brunson has been Camden's coach for one season. But we gave it a shot with the top baseball players in New Jersey history, so we'll do our best again. On January 31, 2000 he scored 80 points (24 of which in the fourth quarter) in a 12266 win against Pennsauken Tech. A motorcycle accident after his rookie season ended what could have been a brilliant NBA career. , I love the game today, he said. Get the latest UK news sent straight to your inbox with our FREE email newsletter! Thompson was considered the number one high school prospect in the land. J." He wants everybody else to do well.. Camden High School, Camden (NJ) Basketball Players - RealGM 21 jersey in Camdens season-opener vs. Philadelphia Public League power Simon Gratz. His jump shot is off, but he still wows the crowd with his quick rushes up the court, stutter-step moves and his uncanny ability to snake through the lane. He also has outstanding footwork, speed and balance. They took Coach Wades words to heart. I fell in love with the community, the fans, the students., More: South Jersey Football Mean 15 Rankings for Nov. 8. 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. "Class of 2023 recruiting rankings headlined by DaJuan Wagner Jr., Mikey Williams and Bronny James", "Son of NBA player ranked No. the official stats partner of the NBA, NHL and MLB. The Panthers finally broke through last season, winning the 2022 state championship. Wagner is only a senior at Camden High School. 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. Camden named a street outside the school after the team's first big star, Ron "Itchy" Smith. (79 kg). He retired with 7,868 career points. ", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Dajuan_Wagner_Jr.&oldid=1151730067. The Throne 2023: Which top high school prospects are playing in NBA "Through three generations, they have all reached mountaintops that have pushed this city forward. 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. Not many dispute it. The Roselle Park native won a championship with the Golden State Warriors in 1975 and was named NBA Finals MVP. Even Camden star Billy Thompson was laughing along. Todays players are skilled, large but agileThe game is faster today. It also was different -- the same sense of pride tinged with the bittersweet realization of the passage of time. "That's a good question. The goal was to build endurance, strength, and of course, character. He wants to lead an NBA franchise. I was being, in my opinion, selfish. Williams headed to Georgetown, Reggie Lewis went to play for Northeastern, and Muggsy attended Wake Forest. "You've heard the clich that basketball is a religion. Catholic team that was ranked No. Since retiring in 2001, Muggsy has coached in the WNBA, coached high school basketball, and been a team ambassador for the Charlotte Hornets. More: 'Chase Street' on Amazon Prime is passion project for former Camden basketball star. "I just tell him go out and play hard, be a good teammate, make everybody else around you better. All content 2000-2023 RealGM, L.L.C. For Milt Wagner, the feeling was familiar. All rights reserved (About Us). The following year, in the 1982-83 season, Dunbar picked up right where they left off, and further solidified themselves as a national powerhouse. . The top-ranked junior prospect is a front-runner for National MaxPreps Player of the Year honors after winning Sophomore MaxPreps Player of the Year last season. The Panthers had not won a state championship since Dajuan led them to the crown in 2000. For Camden legend Milt Wagner, a grandfather's pride - Inquirer.com During his playing career, he was listed at 6'3" (1.91 m) tall and 175 lbs. The Newark native has appeared in 752 games in the NBA during his career, averaging 10.3 points and 2.8 assists. 5 min read. As a result, the New Jersey Interscholastic Athletic Association launched an investigation that is ongoing, officials said. People here call that more than coincidence. 1-ranked recruit Wagner chooses Kentucky", "Can this 14-year-old phenom become the first third-generation NBA player? When Dajuan started helping the Panthers, D.J. When I accomplish something, Camden is accomplishing something.". Bucking a national trend, violent crime is down significantly in recent years and new jobs are emerging, particularly in health care. "This is a poor city; it was really, really bad at one time," says Kevin Cooke, who attended The High in the 1980s. As the shortest player to ever play in the league, Bogues faced immense challenges at every level that he had to overcome. 25. But college recruiting was no easy field. All rights reserved. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. Shorter than his peers, all he had to do was steal the ball a few times or drive right past a guy, and theyd look at him differently. I wanted to go do something for me instead of doing something for them.