{"id":713357,"date":"2026-04-18T18:06:57","date_gmt":"2026-04-18T18:06:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/713357\/"},"modified":"2026-04-18T18:06:57","modified_gmt":"2026-04-18T18:06:57","slug":"maryland-basketball-lands-former-top-10-recruit-dj-wagner-from-the-transfer-portal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/713357\/","title":{"rendered":"Maryland basketball lands former top-10 recruit DJ Wagner from the transfer portal"},"content":{"rendered":"

Maryland moved quickly on its latest transfer portal<\/a> prospect, and it paid off. Former Arkansas<\/a> guard DJ Wagner<\/a> has committed to the Terps, InsideMDSports has learned, giving Buzz Williams<\/a> one of the most recognizable names in the transfer portal<\/a> and another major piece as he continues to rebuild the roster.<\/p>\n

Wagner was on campus earlier this week, and there was immediate talk that Maryland would try to push this one across the finish line. That’s exactly what happened. The former five-star didn’t need much time to make a decision, choosing the Terps after also drawing interest from programs like Villanova<\/a> and Memphis.<\/p>\n

The 6-foot-3 guard arrives in College Park with one year of eligibility remaining and a r\u00e9sum\u00e9 that includes 100 career games and 83 starts between Kentucky<\/a> and Arkansas. He averaged 7.4 points and 2.4 assists this past season while shooting 42.9 percent from the field and 34.6 percent from three in 23.6 minutes per game. The numbers were down from the year prior, when he put up 11.2 points and 3.6 assists, but his role shifted significantly as he played more off the ball behind SEC Player of the Year Darius Acuff<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Maryland’s recruitment of Wagner was headed by assistant coach Steve Roccaforte, a highly respected veteran who coached Wagner’s father, former Memphis star Dajuan Wagner, on John Calipari<\/a>‘s staff.\u00a0 That relationship put Maryland over the top.<\/p>\n

Wagner is the latest piece of a major offseason overhaul by Williams and his assistants. Coming off a painful 11-21 first season in College Park, the 53-year-old coach has been recruiting like a guy who understands the need for a bounce-back season.\u00a0Combining\u00a0Maryland basketball’s five incoming transfers<\/a>\u00a0and its\u00a0Baba Oladotun-led high school recruiting class,<\/a>\u00a0Buzz Williams’ overall haul in his first full offseason ranks\u00a0No. 3 nationally<\/a>\u00a0and first in the Big Ten.<\/p>\n

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Wagner has shown throughout his career that he’s capable of handling lead guard duties and producing when given the opportunity. As a freshman at Kentucky, he averaged 9.9 points and 3.3 assists, and across his three college seasons he’s been a steady presence on teams that made back-to-back Sweet 16 runs at Arkansas. He also brings a level of experience Maryland’s roster needed. Williams has been targeting another guard who can create off the bounce, get downhill and make plays late in games.<\/p>\n

Wagner, whose visit was first\u00a0reported by InsideMDSports<\/a>, fits that mold as well, and will team with emerging rising sophomore Andre Mills<\/a> and Tennessee<\/a> transfer Bishop Boswell<\/a>, along with others, to form what should be a vastly improved backcourt.<\/p>\n

Wagner was the No. 6 overall player in his high school class and at times the No. 1 prospect in the country, a three-time New Jersey Player of the Year at Camden High. He’s the son of former Memphis<\/a> and NBA guard Dajuan Wagner and the grandson of former Louisville<\/a> national champion Milt Wagner\u00a0continuing a well-known basketball family line.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Combining Maryland basketball’s five incoming transfers<\/a> and its Baba Oladotun-led high school recruiting class,<\/a> Buzz Williams’ overall haul in his first full offseason ranks No. 3 nationally<\/a> and first in the Big Ten.<\/p>\n

The production hasn’t matched the five-star hype with Wagner, but the tools, experience and background are all there. In a new situation, with the ball in his hands more consistently, Maryland believes he’ll thrive on a roster that’s close to complete.<\/p>\n

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