WATCH: Kentucky commits DJ Wagner, Justin Edwards connect for 3 in McDonald’s All American Game

Another year, another otherworldly collection talent that’s Lexington-bound to play for John Calipari and Kentucky. And at something of an annual stopover for Kentucky commits, the McDonald’s All American Game, Kentucky commits DJ Wagner Jr. and Justin Edwards combined for a smooth 3.

Wagner, the No. 3 player in the Class of 2023, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, flipped a quick pass out to the left wing to Edwards, the No. 2 player in the class. Edwards rose up with his long frame and buried the triple for the East team.

“The Kentucky connection!” the play-by-play commentator said.

It’s a connection that Kentucky fans have been looking forward to seeing in blue for quite a while now. And though the McDonald’s All American Game is as much a celebration and exhibition of the immensely talented prospects, it’s more than enough to get college fans thinking about the possibilities for their incoming blue-chips.

And despite the rather run-of-the-mill assist, Wildcats fans can let their imaginations run wild about the possibilities with Wagner, Edwards, and the rest of Kentucky’s top-rated recruiting class in 2023.

Wagner carries quite the basketball pedigree with him. He’s the first ever third-generation McDonald’s All American, as both his dad Dajuan Wagner and grandfather Milt Wagner played in the game. Both Wagner’s dad and grandfather played in the NBA, too. Wagner is the top prospect from his home state of New Jersey, where he plays for Camden High School. A 6-foot-3 combo guard, Wagner chose Kentucky over a bevy of other offers, including Villanova, Louisville, Memphis and Duke.

Edwards doesn’t have the same lineage that Wagner does — although his mom, Ebony Twiggs, was a star in her own right, playing for Cheyney Univserity — and is just as touted a prospect. Edwards is the top prospect from his home state, Pennsylvania. He’s a product of Imhotep Institute where he became a five-star prospect. At 6-foot-7, Edwards showed off his shooting ability on Tuesday and brings plenty of length and defensive prowess with him. He picked Kentucky over offers from Kansas, UConn, Tennessee, Virginia and a number of others.

And as On3’s Jamie Shaw noted, the McDonald’s All American Game has been a happy home to blueblood commits, especially those from Duke and Kentucky.

Per Shaw, the 2023 McDonald’s All-American game has seven players that are committed to either Kentucky or Duke. DJ Wagner, Aaron Bradshaw (Camden High/NJ), Justin Edwards, and Reed Sheppard (North Laurel High/KY) have each signed with Kentucky. Sean Stewart (Montverde Academy/FL), Mackenzie Mgbako (Roselle Catholic/NJ), and Jared McCain (Centennial High/CA) are all committed to Duke.

Since the game’s inception in 1978, Kentucky has had 79 signees play in the game. Duke has had 91, the most of any program.

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