Vernon Carey Jr. facts for kids
Carey with Washington Wizards at open practice in 2022
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| Free agent | ||||||||||||||
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| Power forward / center | ||||||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||
| Born | February 25, 2001 Miami, Florida, U.S. |
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| High school | NSU University School (Fort Lauderdale, Florida) |
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| Listed height | 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) | |||||||||||||
| Listed weight | 270 lb (122 kg) | |||||||||||||
| Career information | ||||||||||||||
| College | Duke (2019–2020) | |||||||||||||
| NBA Draft | 2020 / Round: 2 / Pick: 32nd overall | |||||||||||||
| Selected by the Charlotte Hornets | ||||||||||||||
| Pro career | 2020–present | |||||||||||||
| Career history | ||||||||||||||
| 2020–2022 | Charlotte Hornets | |||||||||||||
| 2021–2022 | →Greensboro Swarm | |||||||||||||
| 2022–2023 | Washington Wizards | |||||||||||||
| 2022–2023 | →Capital City Go-Go | |||||||||||||
| 2023–2024 | Pınar Karşıyaka | |||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | ||||||||||||||
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Vernon A. Carey Jr. (born February 25, 2001) is an American professional basketball player. He plays as a Power forward or center. He last played for Karşıyaka Basket in Turkey. Before turning pro, he played college basketball for the Duke Blue Devils. He was a top-ranked player in high school, finishing his career at NSU University School.
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High School Basketball Star
Vernon Carey Jr. played basketball for four years at University School of Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He was a standout player from his first year.
Freshman and Sophomore Years
As a freshman, Vernon averaged 18 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 blocks per game. He helped his team, the Sharks, win 15 games. In his second year, he improved, averaging 22 points and 8 rebounds. He led his team to a 20–7 record and a state championship in Florida. After this great season, he was named to several all-district teams.
Junior and Senior Years
In his junior year, Vernon averaged 26 points and 10.1 rebounds per game. He led the Sharks to an amazing 36–2 record. They won the 2018 Florida 5A state championship. They also won two big tournaments, the City of Palms Invitational and the John Wall Invitational. His team even made it to the finals of the High School National Tournament.
Vernon finished his senior year averaging 21.7 points, 9 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game. Even though he was sidelined for the championship game, his team still won the FHSSA Class 5A State championship again.
Choosing a College Team
On December 6, 2018, Vernon Carey Jr. announced on SportsCenter that he would play for Duke University. This announcement was special because it was exactly one year after his grandfather passed away. By the end of his senior year, Vernon was considered one of the best high school players in the country. He was chosen to play in the 2019 McDonald's All-American Boys Game.
College Career at Duke
Before his first season at Duke, Vernon was already getting a lot of attention. He was named to several important watchlists for top college basketball players.
Freshman Season Highlights
Vernon quickly showed his skills at Duke. On November 12, he scored 17 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in a big win. This is called a "double-double" when a player gets double-digit numbers in two stats. A few days later, he scored a career-high 20 points and 10 rebounds.
On November 21, Vernon had an incredible game, scoring 31 points and getting 12 rebounds. The next night, he scored 20 points and 10 rebounds. He was named the MVP (Most Valuable Player) of the 2K Sports Classic tournament. He also earned player and freshman of the week honors in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).
He continued to play well throughout the season. On December 3, he scored 26 points, 11 rebounds, and 3 blocks against Michigan State. He was named ACC freshman of the week three times in a row. Vernon had more great games, including 24 points and 9 rebounds against Miami. He also scored 26 points and 13 rebounds against Pittsburgh. In another game, he had 26 points and a career-high 17 rebounds against Syracuse.
At the end of the regular season, Vernon was named ACC Freshman of the Year. He was also selected to the First Team All-ACC. As a freshman, he averaged 17.8 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks per game. He earned National Freshman of the Year awards from two different organizations. After this successful season, he decided to enter the 2020 NBA draft.
Professional Basketball Journey
Vernon Carey Jr. began his professional career in the NBA.
Charlotte Hornets (2020–2022)
The Charlotte Hornets picked Vernon as the 32nd player in the 2020 NBA draft. He signed a contract with the Hornets on November 30, 2020. Vernon made his NBA debut on December 30, playing a few minutes in a win against the Dallas Mavericks. On April 16, 2021, he scored his career-high of 21 points in a game against the Brooklyn Nets.
During his time with the Hornets, Vernon also played for their G League team, the Greensboro Swarm. The G League is like a minor league for the NBA.
Washington Wizards (2022–2023)
On February 10, 2022, Vernon was traded to the Washington Wizards. He played for the Wizards and also for their G League team, the Capital City Go-Go. On April 10, he scored 11 points and had 7 rebounds in a game against his former team, the Charlotte Hornets. The Wizards later waived him on March 1, 2023.
Utah Jazz (2023)
Vernon signed with the Utah Jazz on April 8, 2023. He played for them in the NBA Summer League. However, he was released by the Jazz after the Summer League.
Pınar Karşıyaka (2023–2024)
On August 30, 2023, Vernon Carey Jr. signed with Pınar Karşıyaka. This is a professional basketball team in Turkey that plays in the Basketbol Süper Ligi.
Personal Life
Vernon Carey Jr. comes from a family of athletes. His mother is Latavia. His father, Vernon Carey, played professional football in the NFL for the Miami Dolphins from 2004 to 2011.
See also
In Spanish: Vernon Carey Jr. para niños
