DJ Wagner of Camden, Simeon Wilcher of Roselle Catholic, and Mackenzie Mgbako of Roselle Catholic are some of the top high school basketball players in New Jersey. Wagner finished his four-year career as the sixth all-time leading scorer in Camden history, while Wilcher has been an integral piece of Roselle Catholic’s finely tuned machinery since the opening game of his freshman year, guiding the Lions to the final Tournament of Champions title by averaging 16.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 2.0 steals last season. Meanwhile, Mgbako missed ten games due to an ankle injury but was able to make a comeback, scoring 13 points and taking down eight rebounds in his return, erupting for 26 points in a victory against Montclair Immaculate in the sectional final, and scoring 13 points, nine rebounds and a block in the Non-Public B state title game. The keywords associated with the article include the names of the players and their respective high schools, and the colleges they will be attending, Kentucky, North Carolina, and Duke.
Boys Basketball All-State First Team 2022-23
The New Jersey Advance Media boys’ basketball staff has compiled a list of the top players in the state who were named to the 1st Team All-State for the 2022-23 season. The state had an exciting boys’ basketball season this winter, and the staff had the opportunity to witness the high-caliber talent firsthand.
Camden senior center Aaron Bradshaw was named to the All-State First Team and will take his talents to the University of Kentucky.
Aaron Bradshaw
Position: Center
Height/Weight: 7-1, 210
College: Kentucky
In just his second season of varsity ball, Bradshaw followed up a solid junior year with a sensational senior campaign. The 7-foot-1 center was named a McDonald’s All-American and averaged 12 points, 9.5 rebounds, and over two blocks per game. Bradshaw collected 11 double-doubles, including an impressive 11-rebound and 10-block performance against Winslow in the second round of the Camden County Tournament. He matched a career-high of 22 points in wins over Panther Creek (NC) and St. Augustine. Bradshaw is ranked as the No. 2 player nationally by 247 Sports for the Class of 2023 and No. 4 in the ESPN 100. He was also named a Naismith third-team All-American. Bradshaw’s high school career ended when the Camden City School District withdrew the Panthers from the Group 2 state tournament following a melee in the title game of the Camden County Tournament against cross-town rival Camden Eastside.
Dylan Harper
Position: Guard
Height/Weight: 6-4, 185
School: Don Bosco Prep
Dylan Harper, a junior from Don Bosco Prep, was also named to the All-State First Team. Harper is a guard who stands at 6-foot-4 and weighs 185 pounds. He had an impressive season and helped lead his team to the Bergen Jamboree boys’ basketball final. The 2nd Team All-State and All-Non-Public A selection averaged 19.7 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game. Harper had a career-high 36 points in a win over Bergen Catholic in the Jamboree semifinals and was named the tournament’s MVP. He is the No. 44 player nationally by 247 Sports for the Class of 2023 and No. 79 in the ESPN 100.
New Jersey Boys Basketball: All-State First Team 2022-23
The NJ Advance Media boys’ basketball staff has compiled a list of the top players in the state who were named to the All-State First Team for the 2022-23 season. Two players from this list were also named to the All-State Second Team. They are Dylan Harper from Don Bosco Prep and Mackenzie Mgbako from Roselle Catholic.
Dylan Harper
Position: Guard
Height/Weight: 6-4, 185
School: Don Bosco Prep
Harper was a standout player this season and went up against some of the best players in the state. In a head-to-head matchup against Camden and Kentucky commits DJ Wagner and Aaron Bradshaw, Harper dropped a game-high 36 points. That game was one of the most highly anticipated games in New Jersey this winter and was broadcast by Showtime. Harper led all scorers with 27 points in a game against Roselle Catholic, which featured North Carolina commit Simeon Wilcher, Duke commit Mgbako, and Arizona State commit Akil Watson. Harper scored a career-high 38 points against Bergen Catholic in the last game of his junior year. Overall, Harper averaged 24.9 points per game. He helped Don Bosco Prep win a Bergen County title in 2023 and will look to lead the Ironmen to a state title in 2024. Harper is ranked No. 44 nationally by 247 Sports for the Class of 2023 and No. 79 in the ESPN 100.
Mackenzie Mgbako
Position: Forward
Height/Weight: 6-8, 210
College: Duke
Mgbako missed 10 games this season due to an ankle sprain but had a chance to leave a lasting impact in the final three games of the season. He scored 13 points and grabbed eight rebounds in his return, a 90-72 win over St. Thomas Aquinas in the North, Non-Public B semifinals. He scored 26 points two nights later in a 71-61 victory against Montclair Immaculate in the sectional final and had 13 points, nine rebounds, and a block in the Lions’ 68-59 win over St. Rose for the Non-Public B state title. The five-star Duke commit was a First Team All-State selection last year for Gill St. Bernard’s after averaging 19.5 points and 10.6 rebounds. This season, he averaged 16.2 points, 9.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.5 blocks to help Roselle Catholic earn its third consecutive state title. He scored a season-high 34 points and also had 11 rebounds on January 7 to spur a 90-70 victory over Immaculate. Mgbako is a McDonald’s All-American and will be competing in the All-American Game on March 28 in Houston.
Conclusion
The All-State First Team for the 2022-23 season includes some of the most talented high school basketball players in New Jersey. These players have demonstrated their skills on the court and have earned recognition for their hard work and dedication. Congratulations to all the players who made the All-State First Team. We look forward to seeing what they will achieve in the future.
Camden and Roselle Catholic Players Named to All-State First Team
The NJ Advance Media boys’ basketball staff has released the All-State First Team for the 2022-23 season, and two players from Camden and Roselle Catholic have made the list.
DJ Wagner
Position: Guard
Height/Weight: 6-4, 180
School: Camden
Wagner has had a remarkable high school career and has been named to the All-State First Team for the fourth time, joining Shaheen Holloway and Dajuan Wagner, DJ’s father, as the only four-time All-State picks. He finished his four-year career as the sixth all-time leading scorer in Camden history with 2,040 career points. This season, he averaged 22.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.9 assists, leading the Panthers to a 23-3 overall record and the Olympic National title. Wagner is a Kentucky-bound McDonald’s All-American and is ranked No. 2 in the country in the ESPN 100 for the Class of 2023 and No. 3 by 247 Sports. He was also named a Naismith first-team All-American and the New Jersey Player of the Year by MaxPreps and Gatorade.
Simeon Wilcher
Position: Guard
Height/Weight: 6-4, 165
College: North Carolina
Wilcher had an excellent season, helping Roselle Catholic win its third consecutive state title. He averaged 19.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game this season. Wilcher is a North Carolina commit and is considered one of the top players in the country for the Class of 2023. He is ranked No. 22 in the ESPN 100 and No. 17 by 247 Sports.
Conclusion
Congratulations to DJ Wagner and Simeon Wilcher for making the All-State First Team for the 2022-23 season. Both players have demonstrated their skills on the court and have earned recognition for their hard work and dedication. We wish them the best of luck in their future endeavors.
Wilcher’s Impressive High School Career
Simeon Wilcher’s versatility and leadership have been integral to Roselle Catholic’s success. Wilcher played an essential role in the team’s triumphs since his freshman year, where he scored four points and provided six assists in a win over Trenton Catholic. Wilcher’s importance to the team was evident when five-star forward Mackenzie Mgbako suffered an ankle injury, and junior forward Tarik Watson was out due to injuries. In Mgbako’s absence, Wilcher shifted his role from playmaker to scorer and averaged 16.6 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 5.3 assists. Wilcher’s remarkable versatility and impressive skills earned him First Team All-State honors last season. Wilcher’s high school career culminated with him scoring a total of 1,201 points.
Wilcher has committed to playing basketball at the University of North Carolina.
NJ.com covers high school basketball, and Kevin Minnick, Mike Kinney, and Brandon Gould are among its reporters.
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