Dajuan Wagner facts for kids
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Dajuan Wagner in 2010
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| Point guard | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 4, 1983 Camden, New Jersey, U.S. |
| High school | Camden (Camden, New Jersey) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) |
| Listed weight | 200 lb (91 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Memphis (2001–2002) |
| NBA Draft | 2002 / Round: 1 / Pick: 6th overall |
| Selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers | |
| Pro career | 2002–2007 |
| Career history | |
| 2002–2005 | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| 2006 | Golden State Warriors |
| 2007 | Prokom Trefl Sopot |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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| Career NBA statistics | |
| Points | 964 (9.4 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 142 (1.4 rpg) |
| Assists | 195 (1.9 apg) |
Dajuan Marquett Wagner Sr. (born February 4, 1983) is an American former professional basketball player. He is the son of former NBA player Milt Wagner. Dajuan had to leave the NBA early in his career because of serious health problems. He was chosen as the sixth overall pick by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2002 NBA draft.
Contents
Dajuan Wagner's Basketball Journey
High School Star
Dajuan Wagner went to Camden High School. He started playing for the varsity team in his first year. His first game was on December 19, 1997, where he scored 12 points. In his first season, he played 27 games and averaged 27.3 points. He even scored 45 points in one game! At the end of the year, ESPN named him Freshman of the Year.
In his second year, Dajuan played 17 games. He set a new personal record by scoring 57 points in a single game. He finished that season averaging 35.3 points per game. ESPN also named him Sophomore of the Year.
During his junior year, he played 28 games. On January 31, 2000, he scored an amazing 80 points in one game! He was already seen as one of the best players in his age group. He averaged 31.9 points per game that season.
For his senior year, Dajuan started strong. He scored 36 points in his first game and then 50 points in his next. On January 16, 2001, he made history by scoring 100 points in a single game! He made 42 out of 61 shots, including 10 three-pointers. He scored 25 points in the first quarter, 21 in the second, 26 in the third, and 28 in the fourth.
He scored 50 or more points four more times that season. As a senior, he averaged 42.5 points in 29 games. Dajuan scored 3,462 points during his high school career. This was the most points ever in New Jersey high school history at the time. Many people think Dajuan is the best high school basketball player New Jersey has ever seen.
College Days
After high school, Dajuan thought about playing for several big colleges. These included Connecticut, Kentucky, and Louisville. He decided to sign with Memphis in June 2000.
He played one year of college basketball at the University of Memphis. In only his second game, he scored 32 points against Old Dominion. He matched this high score later in the season during the NIT semifinal game. Dajuan helped his team win the NIT championship game by scoring 16 points. He also won the MVP award for the 2002 NIT. He even broke the record for most points in a single season for Memphis, scoring 762 points.
His coach, John Calipari, ended Dajuan's scholarship after his first year. This was to encourage Dajuan to join the NBA. Coach Calipari believed Dajuan should not miss out on the money he would get as a top draft pick.
Amazing College Stats
Here are Dajuan's college statistics:
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001–02 | Memphis | 36 | 35 | 31.8 | .410 | .317 | .722 | 2.5 | 3.6 | 1.2 | 0.6 | 21.2 |
Playing in the NBA
The Cleveland Cavaliers picked Dajuan as the sixth player overall in the 2002 NBA draft. In his first year, called his rookie season, he averaged 13.4 points per game.
Health Challenges
After his rookie season, Dajuan faced many injuries and health problems. He played only 11 games in the 2004–05 season. He averaged a career-low 4.0 points. He was even hospitalized for a serious stomach condition called ulcerative colitis. Because of his health, the Cavaliers did not continue his contract for the next season. Dajuan was then out of the league.
His colitis condition was very difficult to treat with medicine. After talking with New York Knicks coach Larry Brown, Dajuan had surgery. On October 25, 2005, doctors removed half of his colon at Mount Sinai Hospital.
Playing Overseas
On September 22, 2006, Dajuan signed a contract with the Golden State Warriors. He had recovered from his serious illness and was trying to make an NBA comeback. However, on November 20, the Warriors ended his contract early. He had only played one game for the team. This game, on November 11, 2006, was his last in the NBA. The Warriors won against the Detroit Pistons 111–79. Dajuan scored 4 points and had 1 assist in that game.
On August 31, 2007, Dajuan signed a one-year contract to play in Poland for Prokom Trefl Sopot. He averaged 8.3 points in six games. However, he hurt his hip and re-injured his knee, so he returned home.
In 2015, Dajuan tried to return to basketball. He planned to sign with a league called the AmeriLeague. But the league closed down just days later. It was found that the person who started the league had tricked people.
Dajuan Wagner has lived in West Deptford Township, New Jersey.
Life After Basketball
Dajuan's father, Milt Wagner, was also an NBA player.
Dajuan's son, Dajuan Wagner Jr., is also a talented basketball player. He was ranked as the No. 6 basketball player for the class of 2023. He was also chosen as a McDonald's All-American in 2023, just like his father.
See also
In Spanish: Dajuan Wagner para niños
- List of basketball players who have scored 100 points in a single game
- List of second-generation National Basketball Association players
- List of people diagnosed with ulcerative colitis
