Interesting read on Camden Basketball

[S_Janowski]

Being from South Jersey and growing up following Dejaun Wagner…and also recognizing how the city of Camden operates….none of this is surprising to me.

For anyone that ever questions why Rutgers didn’t offer, or wasn’t in it for a kid from Camden for basketball (and even football) - this is exactly why:

https://www.nj.com/highschoolsports...d-they-cheat-their-way-to-a-championship.html

 

[newell138]

Wagners dad is a known criminal, no one should be surprised

 

[AreYouNUTS]

Growing up in the "glory days" of Central and South Jersey hoops, watching games at Jadwyn, featuring the Camden teams with Milt, Thompson, Walls and others, plus AC, Trenton Central, Ewing and a couple of other powerhouses JAM-PACK that place a few years in a row, was amazing!

 

[jerzeyguy]

Nothing wrong with cheating and getting your hands dirty. Its what winners do

 

[Mr. Magoo1]

Being from South Jersey and growing up following Dejaun Wagner…and also recognizing how the city of Camden operates….none of this is surprising to me.

For anyone that ever questions why Rutgers didn’t offer, or wasn’t in it for a kid from Camden for basketball (and even football) - this is exactly why:

https://www.nj.com/highschoolsports...d-they-cheat-their-way-to-a-championship.html

And also because we had no chance

 

[LotusAggressor_rivals]

Nothing wrong with cheating and getting your hands dirty. Its what winners do

It's true that winners do it, but it's not true that nothing's wrong with it. Seems to be a moot point these days, though.

 

[mikeylew1992]

MY question is how are they allowed as a public school to get all of these kids who are clearly not from Camden and then for them to compete for public titles?

 

[Kbee3]

MY question is how are they allowed as a public school to get all of these kids who are clearly not from Camden and then for them to compete for public titles?

Isn't this the very same thing that got legendary North Bergen football coach Vin Ascolese and the Bruin program in trouble years back ?

 

[dvb91]

Lots of hands out looking for theirs.

 

[Briccnerff]

MY question is how are they allowed as a public school to get all of these kids who are clearly not from Camden and then for them to compete for public titles?

It’s been done since I was in HS. Candelino at Eliz, Collichio sat Linden. Hillside FBseems to be doing it now.

 

[NewJerseyHawk]

I can only say so many times, who RU recruits as a person and that family, is how a program gets built into a consistent winner. When you have this situation at Camden HS and it looks and sounds like what every parochial school in NJ is doing, what exactly is the difference??

Whether it's Wagner going to the highest bidder (Kentucky or Louisville) or the Offensive Lineman in North Jersey, who is rumored to be asking for 200 to 300K via NIL, there is no difference other than perception. It's somewhat acceptable for the Parochial programs to do exactly what Camden is doing, but Camden cannot do it??

In either case, the bigger picture is RU football and hoops have the right coaches and people involved building our programs......there are enough talented people in the region to build both programs, we should not be overly reliant on a program, just because they happen to be in NJ.

 

[hinson32]

I agree with Hawk 100% on this.

 

[Eagleton95.99]

Nothing wrong with cheating and getting your hands dirty. Its what winners do

Wrong.

 

[needmorecowbell]

Nothing wrong with cheating and getting your hands dirty. Its what winners do

Some winners who put winning above everything. And if you get caught there’s no problem taking it all away. That’s why there are rules.

 

[Kbee3]

It's somewhat acceptable for the Parochial programs to do exactly what Camden is doing, but Camden cannot do it??

You don't understand the difference between public and non-public ?

 

[RutgHoops]

Growing up in the "glory days" of Central and South Jersey hoops, watching games at Jadwyn, featuring the Camden teams with Milt, Thompson, Walls and others, plus AC, Trenton Central, Ewing and a couple of other powerhouses JAM-PACK that place a few years in a row, was amazing!

Those years up North In my conference we had Mark Bryant, Alaa Abdelnaby and Franz Volcy. Tate George was at Essex Catholic. David Rivers at St. Anthony’s. It was a great time in NJ HS basketball.

 

[Nycrusupporter]

The article points out a lot of questionable stuff, but I will say this, I am impressed the Wagner family remains so connected to Camden and Camden high school. They are basketball royalty and Dejuan and DJ could have both gone anywhere they wanted to play, and they have stuck with Camden. Usually when people have a chance, they abandon these troubled urban centers. Btw, for what it’s worth, I think DJ will go to Kentucky, not Louisville (I have no inside knowledge). Calipari will feature Wagner, will restructure his offense around DJ’s skill set, and will surround him with talent. Louisville would try to do the same things, but the the new coach is unproven and there are no guarantees they can pull it off. Cal’s relationship with NBA front offices can also impact how high DJ ends up going in the draft. The family understands how critical it is for DJ to go as high as possible in the draft, and if playing at Louisville ends up dropping him several slots in the draft, it could mean 10s of millions of dollars in lifetime earnings.

 

[RU-Choppin-Ohio]

Those years up North In my conference we had Mark Bryant, Alaa Abdelnaby and Franz Volcy. Tate George was at Essex Catholic. David Rivers at St. Anthony’s. It was a great time in NJ HS basketball.

But, the 1978 Linden team was the best North Jersey team ever.

 

[RUPete]

Had to take a shower after reading that. I guess the shadiest thing was the charter schools changing their residency policies overnight. If they are independent boards, they can probably do that. It just may piss off the other families, but if they are Camden fans…

 

[ch414]

But, the 1978 Linden team was the best North Jersey team ever.

Tate George was Union Catholic.

 

[toby83]

Whether it's Wagner going to the highest bidder (Kentucky or Louisville) or the Offensive Lineman in North Jersey, who is rumored to be asking for 200 to 300K via NIL, there is no difference other than perception. It's somewhat acceptable for the Parochial programs to do exactly what Camden is doing, but Camden cannot do it??

this is spot on. questioning their Tournament of Champions run vs other Parochials who do nothing BUT this, with $500 tuitions that are not paid, gifts to family members, kids that barely go to class, etc. they are just leveling the playing field vs the Parochials.

 

[dvb91]

this is spot on. questioning their Tournament of Champions run vs other Parochials who do nothing BUT this, with $500 tuitions that are not paid, gifts to family members, kids that barely go to class, etc. they are just leveling the playing field vs the Parochials.

I think the issue is that they got their state title vs public schools, which aren't supposed to be recruiting or taking out of district students, at least as shadily as Camden seems to be. Will be interesting to see how long this dynasty lasts.

 

[seneca ave]

But, the 1978 Linden team was the best North Jersey team ever.

Tate George.......Union catholic......

 

[BKIn118]

Brunson lives a block over from me in my development...although I imagine that's about to change!

 

[shields]

Who was on 78 Linden team? Was Devero(sp) on that team?

 

[bethlehemfan]

Being from South Jersey and growing up following Dejaun Wagner…and also recognizing how the city of Camden operates….none of this is surprising to me.

For anyone that ever questions why Rutgers didn’t offer, or wasn’t in it for a kid from Camden for basketball (and even football) - this is exactly why:

https://www.nj.com/highschoolsports...d-they-cheat-their-way-to-a-championship.html

Thanks for sharing. Interesting article.