By ADAM ZAGORIA
John Calipari just spent a week in Malaga, Spain at the U17 World Cup and some rival coaches think Kentucky will ultimately win the D.J. Wagner Sweepstakes.
“I’m betting on Kentucky,” said one high-major coach who was in Spain and is not recruiting Wagner, the 6-foot-3 Class of 2023 guard from Camden (N.J.) High School and the NJ Scholars EYBL program ranked the No. 1 prospect in his class.
“[Cal] wouldn’t be here all week if he didn’t think he was winning.”
A second coach who is in Spain recruiting other players added, “Yes, they wouldn’t have had him go all the way to Spain [if they didn’t think they could land Wagner].”
Still, Louisville assistants Nolan Smith and Danny Manning have also been in Spain all week. In May, the school hired Milt Wagner, the former Louisville star and D.J.’s grandfather, as Director of Recruiting and Alumni Relations.
“Nolan Smith and Danny Manning have both been there sitting front row for every game, too,” the second coach said.
Before Kenny Payne was hired in March as the new Louisville head coach, Kentucky had long been seen as the frontrunner for Wagner, in part because Calipari coached Dajuan Wagner in his one-and-done season at Memphis and they remain close. Then the narrative flipped and Louisville was seen as the leader after Payne’s hiring and Milt Wagner’s addition to the staff.
The Wagner Sweepstakes is still widely seen as a two-horse race between Kentucky and Louisville, but D.J. told Sports Illustrated last month he’s “open to all schools at this point” and remains in constant contact with Louisville, Kentucky, Auburn, Arkansas and others.
“I’m gonna take more visits, but I’m not sure where to just yet,” Wagner told SI.
Meantime, Wagner and the USA U17 team are into the World Cup semifinals Saturday against Lithuania after Friday’s 106-80 win over Serbia.
Class of 2025 small forward Cooper Flagg led the way with 18 points, 11 rebounds, four assists and three steals while fellow Class of 2025 small forward Koa Peat had 17 points and six rebounds.
Class of 2024 guard Boogie Fland had 11 points and Class of 2024 guard David Castillo and Class of 2023 power forward Ron Holland each finished with 10.
One NBA scout said from Spain that the 6-foot-8 Holland — who has a top five of Kentucky, Texas, Arkansas and the NBA G League — “has been the best” player there.
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