D.J. Wagner returns from injury, will play for Kentucky in homecoming game against Penn

D.J. Wagner is back for the Kentucky Wildcats.

After missing the second half of UK’s big home win over Miami (Fla.) and all of UK’s stunning home loss to UNC Wilmington with a left ankle injury, Wagner will be available to play for Kentucky on Saturday afternoon against Penn in Philadelphia.

The highly touted freshman guard was stacking together solid performances — he entered the Miami game averaging 14.5 points, 3.7 assists and 1.7 steals, and was coming off a career-best 28 points against Marshall — before he took a hard fall when driving to the rim in the first half against the Hurricanes on Nov. 28.

Wagner never returned to that game, as he spent the second half on an exercise bike behind the UK bench. Wagner was an active voice on the UK bench for the Cats’ home loss last Saturday evening to UNC Wilmington.

After that game, Kentucky head coach John Calipari said he had no update on Wagner’s injury status.

On his weekly radio show Monday night, Calipari said Wagner was in the gym watching UK practice Monday. But, Calipari said it was still unclear whether or not Wagner would be able to suit up and play against Penn.

“I know he wants to play, but (his ankle) is black and blue,” Calipari said. “It’s not swollen anymore, but it’s black and blue. So, we’ll see.”

But, Wagner will start for Kentucky on Saturday against Penn.

Calipari said on UK’s pregame radio show that he wants to start Wagner in part because he likes the guard rotation of having freshmen Rob Dillingham and Reed Sheppard check into the game off the bench.

Wagner was on the court in his UK uniform for pregame warmups, with his injured left ankle taped up. Wagner completed his normal pregame stretching and warm-up routine about an hour before Saturday’s game.

Saturday’s game against Penn will be played at Philadelphia’s Wells Fargo Center, the home of the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers.

The occasion will be a homecoming for several Wildcats: Justin Edwards is from Philadelphia, and Aaron Bradshaw and Wagner both played high school basketball in nearby Camden, New Jersey. Senior walk-on guard Kareem Watkins is also from Camden, which is across the Delaware River from Philadelphia.

Aaron Bradshaw, Ugonna Onyenso continue to progress

Calipari added that freshman center Aaron Bradshaw — who made his college debut in last weekend’s home loss to UNC Wilmington — is not “absolutely engaged yet,” as he continues his acclimation to college basketball.

Calipari said Bradshaw will likely check into Saturday’s game alongside Dillingham and Sheppard, who have usually checked into games this season with about 17:00 remaining in the first half.

Additionally, Calipari said that while sophomore center Ugonna Onyenso won’t play Saturday against Penn, Onyenso continues to improve and next week is the targeted return date for the big man.

Herald-Leader Staff Writer Ben Roberts contributed to this report.

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