Upcoming Event: Men's Basketball versus Countdown to Craziness on October 3, 2025 at 7 p.m.
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7 p.m.
Men's Basketball
vs Countdown to Craziness
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2019-20 Men's Basketball Roster
Carey Jr., Vernon
Jersey Number 1
Vernon Carey Jr.
- Position:
- Center
- Height:
- 6-10
- Weight:
- 270
- Class:
- Freshman
- Hometown:
- Southwest Ranches, Fla.
- High School:
- NSU University School
Bio
CAREER
- Enjoyed a strong freshman season as one of the best big men in the nation
- Named ACC Freshman of the Year, a first-team All-ACC pick, the USBWA District Player of the Year and a finalist for the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award
- Started 30 of 31 games, averaging 17.8 points on .577 shooting and 8.8 rebounds
- His .577 field goal percentage led the ACC, ranked 21st nationally and third among NCAA freshmen
- Declared for the NBA Draft on April 10, 2020
- Drafted in the second round of the 2020 NBA Draft by Charlotte with the 32nd overall pick
2019-20
- ACC Freshman of the Year
- First-team All-ACC and ACC All-Freshman Team selection
- USBWA District III Player of the Year
- Named second-team All-American by the Associated Press, Sporting News magazine, Sports Illustrated and CBS Sports
- Finalist for the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award
- Semifinalist for the Citizen Naismith Trophy for Men's Player of the Year
- Started 30 of 31 games, averaging 17.8 points on .577 shooting and 8.8 rebounds
- .577 field goal percentage led the ACC, ranked 21st nationally and third among NCAA freshmen
- Was the only player ranked in the ACC's top 10 in scoring (third), rebounding (fourth), field goal percentage (first) and blocked shots (sixth, 1.6)
- Recorded 15 double-doubles, which ranked second in the ACC, second among NCAA freshmen and 19th nationally
- His 28.7 points per 40 minutes and 10 20-point, 10-rebound games both ranked third among power conference players
- His 15 double-doubles and 146 made free throws both rank third all-time by a Duke freshman
- Tabbed ACC Freshman of the Week for the fifth time after averaging 21 points and 8.5 rebounds in rivalry wins over NC State (3/2) and North Carolina (3/7)
- Went for 27 points on 10-of-20 shooting and grabbed 12 rebounds at NC State (2/19)
- Named ACC Player and Freshman of the Week after leading Duke to wins over Pittsburgh (1/28) and Syracuse (2/1). Logged 26 points in both contests, and added 13 rebounds against the Panthers and 17 boards at Cuse.
- Went 11-of-14 from the floor for 24 points and brought down nine rebounds at Miami (1/4)
- Earned ACC Freshman of the Week honors after a 20-10 performance on 8-of-11 shooting in just 22 minutes against Wofford (12/19)
- Named ACC Freshman of the Week after totaling 38 points and 16 rebounds in road wins at No. 11 Michigan State (12/3) and Virginia Tech (12/6)
- Recorded a double-double in seven straight games, which tied for the fifth-longest streak in Duke history
- Named the Oscar Robertson Player of the Week and earned ACC Co-Player of the Week as well as ACC Freshman of the Week honors following Duke's win at the 2K Empire Classic
- Poured in 51 points and 22 rebounds in wins over Cal and Georgetown at the 2K Empire Classic en route to being named the tournament's most valuable player
- Scored 31 points in 22 minutes against Cal (11/21), marking the fewest minutes played for a Duke player to score 30 points
- Preseason second-team All-ACC
- Named to the watch list for the 2020 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award, presented to the best center in college basketball
USA BASKETBALL
- Two-time USA Basketball gold medalist for the 2017 FIBA Americas U16 Championship and 2018 FIBA U17 World Cup
- In five games for the gold medal winning USA U16 team, averaged a team-leading 14.0 points and 6.2 rebounds while shooting .757 (28-of-37) from the field
- Scored 19 points with five rebounds in the U16 gold medal win over Canada
- Started all seven games for the U17 squad in winning gold in 2018, averaging 11.0 points and 6.9 boards while shooting .563 (34-of-57) from the floor
- Started for the U.S. in the 2019 Nike Hoops Summit win over Team World
HIGH SCHOOL
- Five-star center
- Ranked as the No. 5 overall player in the ESPN 100 and the No. 3 center
- Top-ranked player in Florida
- Averaged 21.7 points, 9.0 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game his senior year at NSU University School
- 2019 McDonald’s All-American and played in the Jordan Brand Classic
- 2018 MaxPreps Player of the Year as a junior
- As a junior in 2017-18, averaged 26.1 points and 10.4 rebounds to help his high school team to a 36-2 record, a 5A state title, the City of Palms Classic title and the final game of the GEICO High School Nationals.
- Chose Duke over North Carolina, Miami, Michigan State and Kentucky
PERSONAL
- Born February 25, 2001 in Miami, Fla.
- Son of Vernon and LaTavia Carey
- Has a brother, Jaylen, and sisters, Taelynn and Dynver
- Jaylen and Taelynn are twins
- His father played football at the University of Miami and was an eight-year veteran of the Miami Dolphins after being drafted as the 19th overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft
- His late grandfather, Vincent Carey, played basketball at Oral Roberts University
(Updated November 2020)
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