Nike Signs Camden Basketball Standout Recognized For Community Service

CAMDEN, NJ — Basketball standout DJ Wagner of Camden has signed a deal with Nike for his name, image, and likeness, the company said.

Wagner, the No. 2 prospect in the 2023 recruiting class, joins the Nike family along with four other student-athletes: Bronny James (son of LeBron), Juju Watkins, Caitlin Clark, and Haley Jones.

Clark is a point guard for the Iowa Hawkeyes, Jones is a guard for Stanford, and Watkins and James play at Sierra Canyon High School in Los Angeles. Nike said these five athletes are recognized not only for their performance on the basketball court, but also for their work in their communities.

Wagner, a senior point guard, established an annual community giveback program to provide thousands of Camden kids with school supplies.

“I’ve seen the impact this game — and the people who play it — can have on the community, and I’m looking forward to taking it to the next level with Nike in Camden and beyond,” Wagner said in a statement.

Camden celebrated its first state basketball championship in 22 years this spring, in an emphatic 93-52 win over Newark Central. Wagner was also named the Gatorade High School Player of the Year two years in a row.

Wagner would become the first third-generation NBA player in league history if he goes pro: his father Dajuan and grandfather Milt also played professionally. He has not committed to a university program yet, per The Athletic.

The National Collegiate Athletic Association approved a policy in 2021 to allow college student-athletes to profit off their names, image and likeness (NIL). Some states, including California in New Jersey, allow certain high school students to sign NIL deals.

The deals allow athletes to make money from their own personal "brand" through things like product endorsements, autograph signings, and social media usage.