College Basketball Recruiting

An absolutely loaded Kentucky men's basketball class of 2023 got even better Monday when DJ Wagner, a 5-star guard who plays for Camden (New Jersey) High School, chose to play for John Calipari's Wildcats.

Wagner—rated as the top prospect in the Class of 2023 in the 247Sports' composite rankings—announced his commitment to ESPN's Paul Biancardi.

The outlet of the choice appeared to be a formality after Travis Branham of 247Sports revealed news of Wagner's impending announcement.

NEWS: DJ Wagner, the No. 2 overall prospect in 2023, is expected to make his college announcement next week, as early as Monday, a source tells @247Sports.

I have locked in my Crystal Ball to Kentucky. || Story: https://t.co/p5vtq0GxX9 pic.twitter.com/C7Y82OMjKM

— Travis Branham (@TravisBranham_) November 11, 2022

Wagner joins a class of 2023 that includes fellow 5-star prospects in center Aaron Bradshaw, small forward Justin Edwards and point guard Robert Dillingham, all of whom are ranked in the top nine of 247Sports' prospect rankings. Bradshaw is notably Wagner's teammate at Camden.

The class also includes 4-star guard Reed Sheppard, ranked 29th overall.

Adam Finklestein, 247Sports' director of scouting, provided a report for the 6'3" combo guard in July that read in part:

"Wagner is a proven and versatile scorer, with numerous weapons at his disposal. He’s also an elite competitor who plays hard, has a way of raising the level of those around him, and doesn’t get enough credit for bringing a similar mindset to the defensive end of the floor. He plays in constant attack mode, accelerates right at his defender while mixing in some shake and shiftiness, scores around the rim with both hands, and is a legitimate threat to create his own shot at all three-levels."

Wagner is the son of former NBA guard Dajuan Wagner, who the Cleveland Cavaliers selected with the No. 6 overall pick in the 2002 NBA draft out of Memphis. Wagner averaged 9.4 points over four NBA seasons for the Cavs and Los Angeles Clippers.

He is also the grandson of Milt Wagner, who played college ball at Louisville before going pro.

In the end, Wagner's choice to go to Kentucky adds to the school's legacy of stockpiling elite high school talents on a yearly basis. Ultimately, the addition of Wagner gives the 2023-24 Kentucky team a chance to be up there with some of the greatest squads in school history.

Tad Boyle has landed Colorado its first 5-star recruit in at least a decade.

Forward Cody Williams announced his commitment to the Buffaloes on Monday, choosing Boyle's program over a hard push from LSU.

"The program and the players are very connected, and they have built a great culture," Williams told ESPN's Jeff Borzello and Paul Biancardi. "I see myself as part of it. I love the staff and Coach Boyle. When Coach Boyle tells you something, you know it is the truth whether it's on or off the court. It is to help you. He is a very genuine person."

Williams is the No. 23 prospect in the 2023 recruiting class and the fifth-ranked small forward, according to 247Sports' composite rankings. He's the younger brother of Oklahoma City Thunder first-round pick Jalen Williams and arguably comes with a higher ceiling.

Gifted with elite length at 6'8" and athletic fluidity, Williams has the potential to be the best defensive player in his class. He's still very much a work in progress on the offensive end—particularly as a shooter—but his ability to create for himself off the dribble and finish at the rim will give him some leeway as his shot develops.

"I love defense," Williams said. "I am focusing on my defense because most do not give it enough attention. My brother is now getting playing time because he has committed himself to guarding, switching and rebounding."

Landing Williams is nothing short of a massive win for Boyle, who is in his 13th season at Colorado. The program has never come close to landing a prospect of Williams' caliber before, with 2012 forward Josh Scott being the previous top recruit signed under Boyle.

Williams is joined by 3-star shooting guard Courtney Anderson among players in the Buffaloes' 2023 class.

Alex Toohey, an 18-year-old Australian forward who has been playing at the NBA Global Academy, has committed to Gonzaga over Villanova, Michigan and Davidson.

Toohey explained his decision to ESPN's Jonathan Givony on Tuesday.

"Gonzaga stood out with their history of winning and making international players better," Toohey said. "Being able to learn from a great coach in Mark Few will be special."

Givony called Toohey "one of the most promising international prospects committing to the college route" for the class of 2023.

The 6'8" Toohey made his debut for the Australian senior national team in Feb. 2021 and scored 12 points in 17 minutes during FIBA World Cup qualifiers in August 2022.

Givony provided highlights of the versatile Toohey:

Highlights of Alex Toohey. The 6'8, 18-year-old wing's combination of size, feel for the game, toughness and ability to play all over the floor gives him significant potential as a college player and could ultimately help him emerge as an NBA prospect at Gonzaga. pic.twitter.com/0TH9zxUnMa

— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) November 8, 2022

The NBA Global Academy is based in Canberra, Australia. It is located in Basketball Australia’s (BA) Centre of Excellence at the Australian Institute of Sport.

Per NBA.com, the Centre of Excellence has been the home for numerous current and former NBA players, such as Oklahoma City Thunder guard Josh Giddey, who became the first-ever NBA Academy Graduate selected in the NBA draft.

The Centre of Excellence has also produced other players such as Andrew Bogut, Matthew Dellavedova, Joe Ingles and Patty Mills.

As for Gonzaga, the Bulldogs have already received a commitment from 4-star forward Dusty Stromer, who is ranked 42nd overall on the 247Sports' composite list of prospects.

Now they add a player with high upside in Toohey, who should help keep Gonzaga's winning tradition going.

LeBron James' decision to publicly state his desire to play in the NBA alongside his son, Bronny James, has reportedly "complicated" the 18-year-old guard's college recruitment.

Sources on college coaching staffs told Dana O'Neil of The Athletic that the James family has been "as low-maintenance as a megastar can be," but the potential desire to fast-track Bronny's path to the NBA to play with his four-time MVP father is an issue.

"That just complicated everything," an unnamed college coach told O'Neil about LeBron's comments.

Bronny has garnered plenty of hype—247Sports' composite rankings list him as 4-star prospect and the No. 45 overall player in the 2023 class—but coaches don't necessarily see him as a lock to emerge as a one-and-done college player.

Instead, those recruiting James' eldest son—15-year-old Bryce is also starting to garner attention as he arrives to high school—see a player who "might not be NBA-ready after two or even three years," per O'Neil.

The question is whether the James family is willing to wait for a more natural, long-term college career or if they'll push for heavy involvement during his freshman season with a focus on Bronny entering the 2024 NBA draft when first eligible.

LeBron's latest contract extension with the Los Angeles Lakers includes a player option for the 2024-25 season, meaning he could opt out and hit free agency with an eye toward signing with whichever team drafts his son in 2024.

Along with the timeline, the other issue raised by college coaches is the amount of attention Bronny will bring to the program, for better or worse.

"And this is LeBron's kid," one coach told O'Neil. "If you play him 30 minutes and then you don't win, what are you doing? But if you play him eight minutes and you do win, are people going to think you're an assh--e for not playing LeBron's kid?"

Another added: "Whether he scores four points or 40, it's going to be talked about the next morning on First Take. Not if your team won, but how Bronny played."

Put it all together and a picture emerges about potentially why no favorites have emerged in the race to land the top-50 prospect. It's a complex situation to handle despite the 6'3" combo guard's ability to provide a major boost, both on and off the court.

Bronny has long-term NBA upside, but his game would need to evolve significantly over the next 24 months for him to prove himself ready for the professional ranks in 2024-25.

Aaron Bradshaw, one of the top centers in the 2023 recruiting class, announced Friday he's decided to play college basketball at Kentucky, per ESPN's Jeff Borzello.

Bradshaw, a 5-star recruit, is rated as the No. 4 overall prospect and the best center among the 2023 group in 247Sports' rankings. The Camden High School standout is also ranked as the second-best player from New Jersey.

The 7'0'', 210-pound rising star has showcased terrific athleticism that has allowed him to dominate the high school ranks at both ends of the floor, and he's also displayed a tireless work ethic.

Bradshaw will need to continue bulking up, especially if the NBA is in his future, but he has all the tools to make an immediate impact at the college level.

In May 2021, he told Rivals' Jamie Shaw he's patterned his game after some of the most dominant, versatile big men of recent decades.

"I play defense and bring a lot of enthusiasm to the floor. I try to bring a lot of energy," Bradshaw said. "I hear a lot of Kevin Garnett, Anthony Davis, big guys who are high-motor players. I grew up a fan of Garnett, Davis and Hakeem Olajuwon. They get after it, they're scrappy and bring a lot of energy to the team."

He possesses the size and raw skill set to play a similar style to those current and former superstars, but his development has a long way to go before he can reach that type of level.

The talented center will look to continue that growth process with the Wildcats. It's too early to know the exact role he'll play at the outset for John Calipari and Co., but he should be one of the first players off the bench in a high-energy role at minimum.

Bradshaw's arrival represents a major boost to the 2023 UK class, and he's a definite name to watch in the coming years.

Andrej Stojaković, son of former NBA All-Star Peja Stojaković, named Oregon, Stanford, Texas and UCLA as the four potential schools to land his commitment, according to Joe Tipton of On3.

The 5-star recruit is considered the fourth-best small forward and No. 21 overall player in the 2023 recruiting class, per 247Sports composite ranking.

Stojaković was also considering Duke and Virginia before the latest cut, while he received scholarship offers from Kentucky, Kansas, Indiana and more.

The 6'6" forward is clearly in high demand from the top programs around the country, but he has a lot of requirements for his next school, as he explained to On3:

I will be looking for a healthy environment to help me grow as a player and a person. Most of my family is overseas and would love to come to watch me play. I want to go somewhere that would be easy for my family to get to. A good ratio of academics and basketball. My goal is to make the NBA, so I want to look heavily at the school that can best help me get there.

Stojaković already has good pedigree from his father, Peja, who spent 13 years in the NBA from 1998-2011. He earned three All-Star selections with the Sacramento Kings and won an NBA title with the Dallas Mavericks in 2011.

The elite outside shooter has clearly passed along some of his abilities to his son, who has a chance to be one of the top players in his class.

Stojaković is heading into his senior year at Jesuit High School in Sacramento, California.

It looks increasingly like Bronny James will choose college over pro ball for at least the 2023-24 season.

Paul Biancardi of ESPN reported there is a "strong feeling" James will attend college, with UCLA, USC, Michigan, Ohio State and Oregon among the schools that are heavily recruiting LeBron James' eldest son.

247Sports lists James as a 4-star recruit and the No. 43 overall player in the nation. He's in the midst of a European tour with the California Basketball Club as he prepares for his senior season at Sierra Canyon (California) High School.

The 6'3" shooting guard has shown he's inherited a high basketball IQ, flashing elite passing skills and demonstrating a heady feel for the game, particularly for a 17-year-old. He also uses his athleticism and smarts to play committed defense, and Biancardi noted he's able to keep his head in the game even when his shot isn't falling.

It's worth noting there are no official offers listed on James' 247Sports page. Being the son of an NBA legend allows Bronny to essentially dictate his own future, and every program in the country would be glad to have him simply on the basis of his association with his father.

There had been widespread speculation that Bronny James would bypass college and take the professional route. While the NBA does not allow players to enter the draft until they are one year removed from high school, James could join the G League Ignite in hopes of improving his draft stock.

It'll likely be nearly impossible to lock down any concrete information on James' future until he makes a decision. Being the son of LeBron opens up every opportunity in the basketball world, but that pressure and outside attention also make finding the right situation critical.

One of the top talents in 2023 is off the board after Kwame Evans Jr. committed to Oregon.

"I feel like it fits me the best and gives me the best chance to go to the NBA," he told ESPN's Paul Biancardi.

Arizona, Auburn and Kentucky were among the other finalists.

The 6'9" power forward is the No. 7 overall player and the second-best at his position in 247Sports' composite rankings.

A native of Maryland, Evans transferred to Montverde Academy in Florida ahead of the 2021-22 school year. His father, Kwame Sr., expressed a desire for him to continue his development after the COVID-19 pandemic forced Baltimore public schools to cancel the 2020-21 winter sports season, per the Baltimore Sun's Glenn Graham:

"We got to do want we can do and, unfortunately, we had to leave just because his development is most important for him right because he's so young and we just don't know where we're going next year with the pandemic. We know they're playing down there, so we had to get out of town. He'll get a lot of exposure, be in the national spotlight down there, so we're just looking forward to new beginnings and trying to get better."

Independent of the uncertain circumstances in Baltimore, heading south to Montverde made obvious sense because the prep school has become a proving ground for elite talent. Cade Cunningham, Scottie Barnes, RJ Barrett and Ben Simmons are some of the recent alumni now in the NBA.

The transfer allowed Evans to test himself against the best, whether it was against Montervde's competition or his own teammates to earn regular playing time.

In October, 247Sports' Eric Bossi described Evans as "a skilled combo forward who can shoot with range, cover ridiculous ground on defense and he's just scratching the surface."

Bossi had also watched the versatile forward at the Peach Jam in July and came away highly impressed:

"It is one thing to see a kid Evans size who can move well laterally and run. But to see a kid as big as him picking up much smaller guards to pressure them for 94 feet is an entirely different thing. His ability to move his feet, slide and contain guys in space is extremely impressive for a big kid, of any age."

So fun to see a prospect find his confidence and flip the switch from prospect to player. Kwame Evans is taking his game to an entirely new level. What he’s out here doing at near 6’10” is crazy. #PEACHJAM2021

— Eric Bossi (@ebosshoops) July 17, 2021

Whether it's at the college or pro level, no archetype is more coveted right now than a player with size who can feasibly guard all five positions and score on all three levels. Evans isn't the mythical on-court unicorn just yet, but he's on his way there.

Plenty of eyes will be on him during the 2023-24 season because he's likely to be a top pick in the 2024 NBA draft at this pace.

Evans will join Jackson Shelstad in Eugene. Shelstad is the No. 10 point guard in the 2023 class.

Ducks head coach Dana Altman has brought a consistent level of success the program didn't experience before his arrival. Much of that is down to attracting a high level of talent to Oregon during each recruiting cycle, albeit not with the same value the traditional blue bloods do.

Looking at what's coming next season, Altman might be hopeful another run to the Elite Eight or Final Four is in store.

Mookie Cook, one of the top players in the 2023 college basketball recruiting class, is considering Arizona, Duke, Kentucky and Gonzaga after he decommitted from Oregon last week, according to Joe Tipton of On3.

Cook has kept the Ducks in the running and is also weighing a jump to the G League Ignite program, per Tipton.

The 6'7", 200-pound forward is the No. 5 overall prospect in next year's class in 247Sports' composite rankings.

Cook announced his decision to reopen his recruitment process on Instagram, saying it came after "much consideration and talks" with his family.

The standout from Compass Prep in Chandler, Arizona, hasn't been formally offered a scholarship by Duke, but the Blue Devils coaching staff is expected to watch him this weekend at a Nike Elite Youth Basketball League (EYBL) event, per Tipton.

He has offers from Arizona, Kentucky and Gonzaga, along with numerous other high-profile programs if he decides to open his recruitment further.

Cook is a prototypical high-end wing prospect with impressive length, athleticism and the ability to make an impact at both ends of the floor. He averaged 11.8 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.7 steals for Compass in his junior campaign in 2021-22, per The Season Ticket. He shot 65.5 percent from the field and 47.6 percent on threes.

The forward would benefit from working on his distribution skills, which would allow him to take on more ball-handling responsibility as he continues to rise through the ranks. Otherwise, his mostly well-rounded skill set makes him a high-floor prospect.

Some speculated he was planning to reclassify to the 2022 class after his commitment to Oregon in March, but his family denied that rumor.

Cook has plenty of time to consider his options, and he could even take more visits during the 2022-23 season.

He didn't provide a timetable to make a new choice for the next stop on his basketball journey.