A recruiter’s dream: Three huge high school basketball prospects, all from the Philly area

People take notice in the basketball recruiting world when highly touted recruits from the same area align with impending commitments.

Justin Edwards from Imhotep Charter and Camden’s duo of guard DJ Wagner and center Aaron Bradshaw fit that bill. They’ve become some of the most recognizable names in the 2023 class.

“I can’t think of [a time with] this many top-20 players and potential All-Americans all at the same time,” said St. Joseph’s Prep and NJ Scholars Elite coach Jason Harrigan. “It’s unprecedented from what I remember, especially from this area. We’ve had some great players in this area, but to have them all in one class at one time is special.”

Edwards is expected to be the first domino to fall. It’s a two-team race for ESPN’s 13th-ranked player in the nation. He plans to announce his pick between Kentucky, the expected front-runner, and Tennessee at 7 p.m. Monday.

» READ MORE: Imhotep’s Justin Edwards was impressed by Kentucky’s Big Blue Nation. Will the rising wing commit to his dream school?

According to Panthers coach Andre Noble, the 6-foot-7 wing is looking for a program with a family environment similar to Imhotep, with his eyes set on making the NBA.

“I think what he’s kind of proven is you don’t have to leave your school to go to one of the academies down South or in the Midwest to reach goals,” said Noble, who has coached Edwards since his freshman year. “Justin has played for one AAU team and one high school team. This city’s exposure and the talent is big enough that you can accomplish anything from the city of Philadelphia.”

Noble, Edwards’ mother, and one of his mentors sat down with the five-star recruit last summer to discuss where his recruitment could take him. They encouraged Edwards to “keep his character” amid the fanfare of being the top player in the city.

“Justin is big on, ‘This is how I play,’ whether there’s a bunch of attention or no one in the gym,” Noble said. “He’s pretty consistent with, ‘I’m going to play how I play no matter if I’m playing up [a level] or who’s there.’”

Edwards is no stranger to playing on big stages. He played up with Team Final last summer, winning Nike’s 2021 Peach Jam. Last season, he led Imhotep to a Public League championship and PIAA Class 5A title.

The kid who flashed potential, getting his first start midway through his freshman season, blossomed into an elite playmaker taking pride in his defensive effort.

Wagner chartered a slightly different course.

He arrived at Camden with high expectations and has been ESPN’s top-ranked 2023 player since the summer after his freshman season. If he continues on the same trajectory, Wagner could become the NBA’s first third-generation player.

“He’s always been the leader by default because he’s the most talented,” said Harrigan, who has coached Wagner since he was in eighth grade. “He’s taken on a more vocal role. He really gets guys going, and he knows how to talk to those guys. He’s the best teammate I’ve ever seen from a young person.”

» READ MORE: 24 hours in Louisville with Camden’s D.J. Wagner, the nation’s No. 1 recruit

Wagner’s recruitment hasn’t reached the point of an official announcement date. The consensus belief is that Kentucky and Louisville are front-runners — and both have deep family ties.

When he was at Memphis, Kentucky coach John Calipari’s first 20-point scorer and one-and-done lottery pick was Wagner’s father, DaJuan. Calipari notably traveled as far as Spain to see DJ Wagner earn a gold medal for Team USA in the U17 FIBA World Cup.

Milt Wagner, DJ’s grandfather, was hired at Louisville to be the director of player development for his alma mater. Cardinals assistant coach Danny Manning also made the trip to Spain.

While DJ was chasing a gold medal halfway across the world, his NJ Scholars team was playing in Kansas City, Mo. Most notably, it fell to Edwards and Team Final, 55-34, on July 7.

“He’s texting us after the game; he’s calling after the game,” Harrigan said. “Telling about his experience, but more so encouraging his teammates. You could tell when we lost a game it was hurting him as well.”

Wagner and Bradshaw have gotten interest from many of the same programs — particularly Kentucky and Louisville.

Harrigan said the two frequently share perspectives on schools and specific coaches. Those conversations don’t necessarily veer into shared plans.

“They share similar schools, but their experiences are unique to them because it’s their first time going through it,” Harrigan said. “They want to make sure they’re thorough in their process. While it’s a shared experience, I think it’s also unique to each individual kid.”

Bradshaw’s recruitment didn’t pick up steam until later in high school. He transferred to Camden from Roselle Catholic after his freshman season. The pandemic precluded him from seeing the floor in his sophomore year. He then averaged 8.9 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 3.3 blocks as a junior.

“He wasn’t as confident early on because he’s a tall kid who has a unique skill set,” Harrigan said. “He shoots the ball very, very well. He can handle the ball very well. He can pass the ball very well. But he hasn’t always been taught to do that at that size.

“[Between] me encouraging him and everybody around him encouraging him to show those talents more, he’s finally gotten there where he’s exploding.”

» READ MORE: Camden’s Aaron Bradshaw is one of the top centers in the country and keeps improving

In May, the 7-foot center narrowed his choices down to Maryland, UCLA, Louisville, Kentucky, Oklahoma State, Michigan, and the G League.

On Tuesday, LeBron James was among the attendees of an NJ Scholars game at the Peach Jam featuring Bradshaw and Wagner.

All eyes will be on Edwards, Wagner, and Bradshaw until those college decisions become official.