Last month, on a rainy Tuesday afternoon just before Christmas, Dajuan Wagner strolled into a Cherry Hill gym. It was only a minute or two before tip-off of a game between Camden High and Cherry Hill East, and he sat close to the door, at the very end of the first row of bleachers, shaking a hand or two and nodding back at some folks who recognized him - the greatest high school player New Jersey's ever seen.
»Read story: Finding Dajuan
»Read story: Finding Dajuan
Comments (56)
Seems like he's been through quite a bit, for 28.— CCRichards
Wow, a blast from the past...I wish him the best of luck!— ssaun- wow, a talented writer on philly.com's sports section! well written, thank you— cmoore1918
- I agree, what a sad story. Hope he can have some peace and health for many years.— petergou
- I'm glad I found this article. I Googled him a year or so ago, didn't learn much. Just remembered his career in Camden. Hope he finds some success on the court.— Bruce in NM
- I thought he was locked up.
What's the over/under on the # of credits he earned at Mephis STate?— Wilhelm Von Humboldt - Well written article!— SWlawchick
- He may not have a spot in the Hall of Fame set aside for him, but to have cleared over $10 million by the age of 28 isn't anything to cry foul over either ... I'd take it.— waldo08
- nice reporting.....seems as if he didnot have medical issues he would have had a NBA career....— malco49
- Word was that DuJuan couldn't read higher than a 4th grade level and the Camden School district pushed him through because of his talent. I know a teacher of his who tried to hold him back, but was told she couldn't because it didn't matter, he was going to make so much money for the district and himself anyway.— krazylegs
- Its tough to make a comparison to Sweet Pea -- Daniels couldn't keep his nose clean.— Murrayman
- He was such a great talent.. a genuinely nice kid too.. hope he makes it back on a roster soon..— albertpa
- I believe I've had the same surgery that Wagner had. It took me a year just to feel normal again and I've had a good recovery from what I've heard. I wish him well. Would be great to have him on the Sixers - even coming off the bench would be nice.— Deathstalker
- Wow, now he may actually have to earn a living like the rest of us, what a pity. If he kept some money, congrats. If not, get a job.— StorminNorman
- City of my birth. I am rooting for him.
And jeez no wonder he's had colitis and so many injuries: he's been carrying an unimaginable load of stress. As if growing up in Camden weren't enough, no, he's got to be a savior figure and be the hope fo a community where hope is less common than the diamond that bears the name Hope, and his stepfather a now convicted kingpin. The pressure. Terrible. I hope he's found a way to cope that takes the stress off his body. Otherwise he'll never recover fully. I hope for him. I'm among his biggest fans.— HeelYes
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