NBA Draft expert chimes on on DJ Wagner
Kentucky basketball will feature a high octane backcourt this upcoming season.
Five-star guard DJ Wagner will lead the charge for the Wildcats at point guard with another five-star in Rob Dillingham backing him up. Antonio Reeves, a prolific scorer and one of the best three-point shooters in the nation, will play off-ball with Wagner.
It's going to be a fun backcourt to watch, especially with Wagner heading things up.
What do we need to know about Wagner before the beginning of the season, and what are his strengths as a player?
Andrew Stefaniak of Wildcats Today sat down with Rafael Barlowe of the Locked On NBA Draft Podcast to discuss Wagner's abilities, and what may stand out to NBA scouts.
"He's a very creative and craft scorer," Barlowe said. "So his skillset that I think he'll be able to hang his hat on is his ability to put the ball in the bucket and score."
Kentucky's lacked a strong isolation scorer for a couple of years now, and with Wagner and Dillingham running point, that should change dramatically. Wagner is one thing first; a bucket getter that can get his own shot.
"He's someone that can create his own shot, which is very valuable," Barlowe continued. "He's very crafty, he's not like an elite athlete but he knows how to change speeds, he knows how to get to his spots. He does have a quick first step, but he is an aggressive scorer that just knows how to get where he wants to, he can fill it up."
What are areas of his game that can improve? Barlowe believes that passing will be an area to watch as Wagner dons the blue and white.
"I think that if he can improve as a passer - I think he can pass - but if he can make strides as a passer, maybe play a little point guard as opposed to being like a combo guard, he could end up being like a high-level starter (in the NBA)," Barlowe said. "Right now even though he's a very gifted scorer, he's not really a very good shooter, especially off the ball. If he can improve his outside shooting also, that will go a long way in determining his role."
Wagner playing point will certainly allow him to at least work on his passing and shooting. If Kentucky opts to run a rotation with both Wagner and Dillingham in the lineup - a move the Wildcats seldom went to during the GLOBL JAM, but a potentially effective one with the more explosive ball handler Dillingham on the court - then they could see DJ also improve his off-ball shooting.
Overall, fans should be thrilled with DJ Wagner as PG1 for UK this season.
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