Post by jhb on May 21, 2021 11:11:13 GMT -5
Dajuan Wagner
SG
6'2"
200
19
Memphis
One of a handful of teenage prospects making their way to TMBSL this draft class, Wagner is right near the top of the group in terms of excitement among the scouting community. Billed as a solid athlete with a ton of upside, good hops, and above average quickness (he doesn't have elite top-end speed but he has a deadly first step), Wagner is lauded for being one of the few players in college that can create quality scoring opportunities for himself. For a 19 year old, he's already very well developed and has a strong upper body that allows him to finish through contact and with a variety of moves in the lane...lay-up, dunk, floater, etc. He handles the ball well and will take his man off the dribble with no hesitation. Despite being short for a 2 guard, he is very creative in getting his looks and has great body control and instincts at how to use the court to his advantage to create space for himself. He's really good at using the pump fake off a catch on the perimeter to get defenders closing out to fast before stepping through for a pull-up jumper or dribble drive and once he gets going this way is a heat check type of guy who can rattle off points in a hurry. Once he gets going like that he can be hard to stop, unless he starts forcing the issue and taking bad shots or turning the ball over.
Scouts are concerned about his consistency, especially since his shot selection leaves a lot to be desired. Ideally, a player his size would be a point guard but Wagner's decision making is poor and he seems to lack interest in finding looks for anyone but himself. He forces a lot of tough shots, especially from the mid-range out to 3, which is why his shooting numbers don't reflect what they should for a player with as smooth a stroke as he possesses. Defensively, Wagner seems to believe the best defense is a good offense and as long as he's outscoring his individual assignment then he's done his job on that end. He doesn't play connected team defense and often loses focus and his man completely while ball-watching. He won't make an impact on the glass either.
Regardless, Wagner is 19 and has a lot of room to grow. With a focus on improving his shooting consistency and being engaged on defense, he can maximize his very high potential.
