DJ Wagner is taking his five-star basketball prowess to Lexington, where he plans to play for coach John Calipari and the Kentucky Wildcats.

Wagner, the top-rated recruit in the 2023 class, announced his pledge on Monday via ESPN's Paul Biancardi and has already signed his National Letter of Intent, according to a news release from UK Athletics. Other schools to offer a scholarship to the 6-foot-3 combo guard include: Louisville, Memphis, Temple and Villanova.

"Coach John Calipari was always straightforward and honest with me. He said he would be with me until the wheels fall off the car either way," Wagner told ESPN. "And that meant so much to me. I’m coming there to win. Winning comes first with me and I want to help Kentucky win as much as possible."

Wagner is the fifth rising senior and fourth five-star prospect to join Calipari's star-studded 2023 class, which surged past Duke to claim the top spot on 247Sports' national leaderboard with the South Jersey native's pledge.

The Wildcats have also scored commitments from one of Wagner's teammate, coveted big man Aaron Bradshaw; Robert Dillingham, the top-rated point guard in the country; Justin Edwards, a versatile wing from Philadelphia; and North Laurel High School star Reed Sheppard.

DJ Wagner, Aaron Bradshaw:How top 2023 recruits let their game do the talking in Louisville

Here is some basic info about Wagner:

• Full name: Dajuan Wagner Jr.

• Height: 6 feet, 3 inches

• Weight: 165 pounds

• Birthday: May 4, 2005

• Hometown: Camden, New Jersey

• High School: Camden High School

Here are three more things to know about Wagner — and a look at the five-star prospect's highlights:

DJ Wagner's family ties to Kentucky basketball, John Calipari

Wagner's father, Dajuan Wagner, committed to play for Calipari at Memphis as the No. 1 recruit on ESPN's rankings of the 2001 class out of Camden High School.

After the elder Wagner averaged 21.2 points per game for the Tigers during the 2001-02 season, Calipari reportedly called him into his office, tore up his scholarship and pushed him to enter the professional ranks. He listened to his coach and was selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers with the sixth overall pick in the 2002 NBA Draft, securing a rookie deal worth $7.4 million.

In 2018, the Wagners visited Lexington to attend one of Calipari's father-son camps, during which the coach posed for a picture with his former player.

Calipari added another member of Wagner's family, stepbrother Kareem Watkins, to the Wildcats as a walk-on in November 2020. The 5-8 junior guard has appeared in 10 games, tallying a single point, since joining UK.

Speaking with Kentucky Sports Radio this past January, Wagner called Watkins his "blood brother" and said they're "best friends."

"He’s a goofball like me," Wagner said. "We like to play around a lot, goof around."

Just do it: NIL deal with Nike preceded DJ Wagner's pledge to Kentucky

Wagner made headlines in July when he appeared in an advertisement campaign for a collection of basketball apparel from NOCTA, a Nike sub-label with chart-topping rapper (and noted Kentucky fan) Drake.

The details of Wagner's partnership with NOCTA were not disclosed at the time of the ad's release, and he brushed it off as "not really an NIL deal" during the Nike-sponsored Peach Jam grassroots tournament in North Augusta, South Carolina.

“It’s not really an NIL deal. It’s just me promoting it," Wagner told Jacob Polacheck of ZAGSBLOG.com in July. "We’re just some hoopers and they wanted to get some stuff out, so we’re some hoopers. They just wanted to get the product out and we wanted to help with that."

Three months later, Wagner was introduced as a member of the Nike Basketball family just days before visiting Lexington for Big Blue Madness. The Camden High School star was one of three rising seniors to sign name, image and likeness deals with the Oregon-based company, joining LeBron James's son, Bronny, and coveted women's hoops prospect JuJu Watkins.

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

DJ Wagner:Top 2023 basketball recruit, Kentucky target signs Nike NIL deal

In a moment of well-timed product placement, Kentucky used basketballs from the NOCTA line during Big Blue Madness' 3-point contest with Wagner and other high-profile recruits sitting courtside at Rupp Arena.

DJ Wagner is New Jersey's reigning Gatorade Boys Basketball Player of the Year

Wagner was named Gatorade's top boys basketball player in New Jersey for the 2021-22 season after averaging 19.6 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 3.1 steals during Camden High School's run to a 12th NJSIAA Group 2 state championship. The Panthers play in a gym named after Wagner's father.

Playing with Bradshaw and the NJ Scholars on the EYBL circuit this year, Wagner averaged 18.8 points and 4.9 assists per game.

Kentucky basketball recruiting:These players have signed to the Wildcats' 2023 class

"First and foremost, he is a scorer who plays in constant attack mode," said Adam Finkelstein, the director of scouting for 247Sports, after Wagner picked Kentucky on Monday. "He comes right at his defender and he doesn't stop, but he's got a lot of shake and change in direction as he's doing it. He's very adept at scoring around the rim. He's got a deep bag of floaters, different layups, pull-up jumpers, and again he just keeps coming at you.

"He is a serviceable shooter. That's an area of his game that's gotta get a little more consistent at the next level, but he can definitely make shots once he gets going. Also would like to see him become a little bit more of a point guard, but that competitiveness ... it impacts the game on the defensive end of the floor and also in terms of his leadership and the ability to galvanize those around him. I think that's the part we don't talk enough about, because he is an alpha competitor who knows what it takes to win and can will those around him to do the same thing."

For a taste of what the combo guard has to offer on the court, check out his highlights below.

DJ Wagner highlights: See the top 2023 basketball recruit in action

On the EYBL circuit:

Wagner's top plays from Year 3 at Camden High School:

Reach recruiting and trending sports reporter Brooks Holton at bholton@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter at @brooksHolton.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: DJ Wagner: Highlights, 3 things to know about UK basketball signee