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DJ Wagner and Aaron Bradshaw’s High School Career Ended Following On-Court Altercation

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3 years ago

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© CHRIS LACHALL/USA TODAY NETWORK ATLANTIC GROUP / USA TODAY NETWORK

On Thursday night, Camden High School would take on Camden Eastside for the title game in the inaugural Camden County Tournament in New Jersey. The game, unfortunately, came to an abrupt end, being suspended after a brawl broke out between the two teams.

The game took place at Cherry Hill High School, a neutral site for both teams. Camden was leading the game 30-17 with 4:23 left in the second quarter when the fight initiated. Eastside’s Titus Bacon appeared to initiate a screen in which he was met with a forearm from Camden’s Cornelius Robinson. In retaliation, Bacon threw a punch toward Robinson in the same instance. A foul was called, but the action did not stop when the whistle was blown.

Kentucky signee, DJ Wagner acted instantly in defense of his Camden teammate, chasing after the Eastside player. Wagner had to be held back by teammates and coaches as benches and bleachers were cleared in the scuffle. Current teammate and fellow future Wildcat, Aaron Bradshaw, was one of the first teammates there to assist in pulling Wagner out of the situation.

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The action was broken up by coaches, officials, spectators, and members of the Cherry Hill police department. Due to the escalated situation, the remainder of the game was suspended.

Thankfully, no one was hurt in the altercation.

Camden and Eastside suspended from state tournament

No action goes without consequence. On Friday, Katrina McCombs, State District Superintendent of the Camden County School District announced that the district will be withdrawing Camden and Camden Eastside from state tournament participation.

Per McCombs’ press release, “we know meaningful action must be taken and it must be done swiftly which is why the District will be withdrawing both teams from NJSIAA [New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association] tournament play. This initiative is being taken to ensure that our scholar-athletes know that accountability for their actions is paramount not only in basketball but also in the larger game of life.”

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Regretfully, future Wildcats DJ Wagner and Aaron Bradshaw have played their final games for Camden High. They will miss the opportunity to defend their state title.

Camden held a 23-2 record and was set to be the No. 2 seed in their respective section of the state tournament. They were a favorite to win the tournament.

Camden’s first-year coach, Maalik Wayns, released a statement via Twitter issuing an apology and taking “full responsibility” for the actions involving his team.

What does this mean for Wagner and Bradshaw at Kentucky?

Hopefully, Camden’s suspension from the state tournament will be the extent of their punishment. At this time, there is nothing indicating that Wagner or Bradshaw would face any consequences affecting their collegiate career.

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When news of Camden’s brawl hit the Big Blue Nation, there were mixed thoughts and feelings reflected across social media.

Some Kentucky fans looked at Wagner’s actions in a positive light, appreciating his toughness and grit to fight in his teammates’ defense. Many took the opportunity to apply the popular expression, “he’s got that dawg in him.”

On the other hand, there were plenty of fans who had the opposite view. Fighting in sports isn’t really the best look, especially if it creates negative consequences affecting the rest of the team.

Regardless of how it may seem, having a player with some grit and an edge might be exactly what Kentucky Basketball needs. DJ Wagner and Aaron Bradshaw will both bring toughness and willingness to battle that every coach wants to see in their players.

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It is a tough break for the two future Wildcats to lose the opportunity to play for another state championship. However, it will also serve as an invaluable situation for these young players to learn, grow, and mature from before they get to Lexington.

As it stands, both Wagner and Bradshaw are still eligible to play in the McDonald’s All-American game on March 28th.

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BB Recruiting

Kentucky Basketball Receives Prediction to Land International Star Nikola Kusturica

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7 days ago

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June 17, 2026

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Kentucky basketball has taken over as the favorite for Serbian star Nikola Kusturica, a projected lottery pick in 2028, with a prediction backing the Wildcats.

Just when many believed Kentucky’s roster was complete in terms of contributing players, Mark Pope might have an ace up his sleeve.

Last week, it was reported that Kentucky was among the frontrunners to land 6-foot-8 Serbian wing Nikola Kusturica. At the time, Gonzaga was thought to be the team to beat, having a more defined role to offer, compared to Kentucky, who has one remaining roster spot and a good amount of depth in wing positions.

Since then, things have shifted in a big way.

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Gonzaga received a commitment from 18-year-old French guard Juwan Ekanga-Ehawa on Sunday. By Tuesday night, the Wildcats received a Crystal Ball prediction from 247Sports’ Travis Branham to land Kusturica, with a confidence level of 7 out of 10.

The 6-foot-8 wing currently plays for FC Barcelona in Spain’s Liga ACB and EuroLeague system. He just turned 17 years old and is reportedly seeking a two-year college opportunity before becoming draft-eligible in 2028, where he is already being projected as a lottery pick.

The on-court résumé speaks for itself. In the 2025 FIBA U16 EuroBasket, he averaged 20 points, 7.7 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 2.1 steals, and 1.6 blocks per game while leading Serbia to a championship and was named tournament MVP. He also helped Barcelona capture the Adidas NextGen Finals championship last month, posting 20 points and 10 rebounds in the title game against Real Madrid.

Next, Kusturica will represent Serbia in the FIBA U17 World Cup from June 27 to July 5, and a college decision could come before then.

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Mark Pope is carrying a lot of momentum in recent weeks after retaining Malachi Moreno and adding Milan Momcilovic to this season’s roster, as well as landing the first top 10 prospect of his career in Ryan Hampton. If he can close on Kusturica, that would cap off the roster in a significant way and continue to change the narrative around his recruiting ability.

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Kentucky Earns Commitment From No. 6 Prospect in 2027 Class Ryan Hampton

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2 weeks ago

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June 7, 2026

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Photo via UK Athletics


How about a Sunday boom in the recruiting world for you BBN? 

Ryan Hampton, the No. 6 overall prospect in the 2027 class, has officially committed to the University of Kentucky! This is Mark Pope’s first top-10 prospect that he’s earned a commitment from.

Hailing from Rockwall, Texas, Hampton recently took an official visit to campus with his family, which began on Friday, June 5 and spilled into Sunday, June 7, his commitment day. 

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The five-star wing averaged 21.7 points and 5.9 rebounds per game during the most recent EYBL Circuit, playing for LivOn and Nightrydas.

Hampton was the first recruit in the 2027 to officially visit with the Wildcats, and now he’s the first to call their shot early and choose the blue and white. 

Pope has signed Milan Momcilovic, the No. 2 ranked transfer, and Hampton, his first top-10 high school prospect just in the past week.

It’s been a crazy week for recruiting, with the narrative around Pope’s ability slowing fading as the top guys continue to be attracted to the Kentucky brand. 

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Fast Riser Big Man Yann Kamagate Receives Scholarship Offer From Kentucky

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1 month ago

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May 18, 2026

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Fresh off the first live recruiting period of the offseason, Mark Pope and the Kentucky Wildcats have extended their first scholarship offer of the 2028 class.

Yann Kamagate, a prospect who went from unranked to the top five in 247Sports’ most recent recruiting rankings, received an offer from the Wildcats, he confirmed to KY Insider on Monday.

“Not everyone gets the chance to be seen by greatness,” Kamagate told KY Insider. “I’m grateful for the offer from Kentucky.”

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Kentucky assistant coach Mikhail McLean, who works with the Wildcats’ big men and their development, watched Kamagate first-hand this past weekend in the Adidas 3SSB circuit in Mishawaka, Indiana.

The 7-foot big man was the talk of the weekend, displaying a high motor, extreme athleticism — a reported 7-9 winspam — and great feel for the game. On the circuit, he is averaging 13.9 points, a circuit-leading 10.4 rebounds, and 2.9 blocks per game.

Originally from the West African country of Burkina Faso, Kamagate moved to the United States just a year ago and has only been playing basketball for three years. Now, he is challenging for the top spot in the 2028 class.

He is currently represented by former NBA player and UCLA star Luc Mbah a Moute. Which is relevant as he is currently playing for the California Adidas team, Compton Magic, and attends La Cañada Flintridge (Calif.) St. Francis.

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The offer is the latest signal that Mark Pope’s staff is casting a wide and aggressive net this offseason, and targeting players whose trajectories are trending sharply upward. Kamagate fits that profile exactly.

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