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Recruiting analysts weigh in if DaJuan Wagner Jr. plays at Kentucky or goes pro

Wagner is the No. 1 overall player in 2023.

HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL: JAN 18 Spalding Hoophall Classic Photo by John Jones/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

John Calipari and his staff are already working on the 2022 and 2023 classes as they look to get back to winning the way we are all used to.

Looking ahead to 2023, the No. 1 overall player currently is Dajuan Wagner Jr., and the Kentucky Wildcats are the heavy favorite if he decides to go to college.

However, that is the big question. Will he go to college?

Recruiting analysts Rob Cassidy and Dan McDonald of Rivals weighed in on whether or not they believe Wagner goes to college.

Cassidy believes that he will go to college, and the relationship the Wagner family has with Calipari could play a role.

“DaJuan Wagner certainly has the skill to make the jump to the pros, but I get the feeling college is a serious option here unless the one-and-done rule vanishes before he’s ready to sign a letter of intent.”

He continued, “I understand this is picking the upset and, admittedly, this answer is the product of my contrarian nature. At the same time, Wagner’s family’s relationship with John Calipari could come into play here, especially if the G League route fails to produce an NBA star between now and signing day 2023. I’m willing to be wrong in the name of going out on a limb here.”

McDonald on the other hand, doesn’t believe that Wagner will end up in college.

“Unfortunately for those of us that love college basketball, I just don’t see it happening. He’s the No. 1 prospect in the 2023 class for a reason and looks to be on track for an NBA career the minute he’s of age. Unless he’s just dead set on getting a start on his education, it doesn’t really make much sense for him to be going to class when he could be paid to work on his craft full time in preparation to make millions of dollars at 19 years old.”

For Kentucky’s sake, hopefully Cassidy ends up in the right and the BBN gets to watch a season of Wagner Jr in Lexington before he makes the jump to the NBA.

You can check out everything Cassidy and McDonald had to say in this week’s Fact or Fiction here.

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