Kentucky guard DJ Wagner to enter transfer portal, but 'completely open' and will meet with Mark Pope

Kentucky guard DJ Wagner will enter the transfer portal but will also meet with new head coach Mark Pope.

Mar 6, 2024; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard D.J. Wagner (21) reacts after a
Mar 6, 2024; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard D.J. Wagner (21) reacts after a / Jordan Prather-USA TODAY Sports
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The Kentucky roster is losing another piece from last year as freshman guard DJ Wagner will enter the transfer portal.

According to 247Sports National Analyst Travis Branham, Wagner will be 'completley open' with his next move. That also includes meeting with new Kentucky head coach Mark Pope about a potential return.

Wagner averaged 9.9 points, 1.9 rebounds and 3.3 assists this season in 29 games.

The 6-foot-2 guard struggled to find consistentcy this past season, shooting just 40.5 percent from the floor and 29.2 percent from three. He had 13 games with 10+ points but also posted nine games with four or less points.

Through the first 16 games of the season, however, Wagner was excelling for Kentucky. He was averaging 12.8 points and 3.8 assists per game while hooting 45.7 percent from the field.

It was the remaining 13 games in which he struggled. He posted just 6.4 points per game and shot 30.2 percent from the floor. That included going scoreless in 17 mintues in Kentucky's loss to Oakland in the NCAA Tournament.

Wagner was a top-10 recruit in the 2023 class. His dad, DaJuan Wagner, played for former Kentucky head coach John Calipari during his tenure at Memphis.

A move to the NBA Draft is a possibility for Wagner, as is a potential stay at Kentucky.

Wagner is the fifth player to enter the transfer portal from Kentucky and the seventh total to leave (portal, NBA Draft).

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