Each year since 2006, MaxPreps has recognized outstanding performers in
high school basketball. America's source for high school sports continues
the tradition to close out the 2020-21 season by naming the top player in
each state. Selections are based on team success and individual performance, in addition to local and state accolades.
D.J. Wagner of
Camden is the 2020-21 New Jersey High School Basketball Player of the Year. The 6-foot-3, 175-pound sophomore lived up to the hype for the Panthers, who finished 13-0 in an abbreviated campaign without a postseason.
Wagner averaged 22.0 points, 3.8 assists and 3.8 rebounds per game. He scored 20 or more points in 11 of 13 games and poured in a season-high 30 points in an 84-59 victory over Camden Catholic on Feb. 16.
Through 43 career games in his high school career, Wagner has amassed 843 points. That production has translated to team success for Camden, which went 29-1 and finished No. 16 in the final MaxPreps Top 25 a year ago. The Panthers are No. 8 in this week's national rankings.
247Sports has Wagner pegged as the No. 1 prospect in the Class of 2023. He was the MaxPreps National Freshman of the Year last season and both his father DaJuan Wagner Sr. and grandfather Milt Wagner spent time in the NBA.
Each state's MaxPreps Player of the Year will be considered for inclusion in the MaxPreps All-America Team, which is scheduled to be released April 13.
D.J. Wagner has led Camden to a 42-1 record in his two seasons with the program.
Photo by Robert Barnes
