Vernon Carey Jr.

Vernon Carey Jr.'s Biography

Vernon A. Carey Jr, born on February 25, 2001, is an esteemed professional basketball player hailing from America. He has most recently lent his skills to the Pınar Karşıyaka team in the Basketbol Süper Ligi. Earlier in his career, Carey was part of the Duke Blue Devils, where he played his college basketball. Before his affiliation with Duke, he dabbled in high school basketball and made quite a name for himself as a five-star recruit and one of the best players in the 2019 class at NSU University School.

During his four-year tenure at the University School of Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Carey showcased his basketball prowess. Starting strong, he averaged 18.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks during his freshman year. His commendable performance helped guide the Sharks to 15 wins against 9 defeats. In his sophomore year, he managed to average 22.0 points and 8.0 rebounds, leading his team to a record of 20 wins and 7 losses, besides winning a Florida district state championship. His contributions in this incredible season won him a place in the 2017 Miami Herald and Sun Sentinel all-district teams and lead to an honorable mention in the MaxPreps All-American 2017.

In his junior year, Carey demonstrated a formidable performance by averaging 26.0 points and 10.1 rebounds in every game. With his help, the Sharks registered a staggering record of 36 wins and only 2 losses. They also won the 2018 Florida 5A state championship, the 2017 City of Palms Invitational, and the 2017 John Wall Invitational. Despite Carey’s commendable leadership, the Sharks lost the championship game of the High School National Tournament against Montverde Academy, captained by star player RJ Barrett.

As a senior, Carey delivered an impressive average of 21.7 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game. Backed by supporting cast members Scottie Barnes, Taylor Hendricks, Jace and Jett Howard, the 2018-19 University School team successfully retained its FHSSA Class 5A State championship by defeating Andrew Jackson High School, even though Carey was unable to play during the championship match.

In December 2018, on the first anniversary of his grandfather’s death, Carey announced he was committed to joining Duke University on SportsCenter. By the end of his last season in high school, he was ranked the 6th best player nationwide, and had secured his place as a five-star recruit according to all major recruiting services.

At Duke, his college career began with an impressive start. He was included on the John R. Wooden Award Preseason Top 50 list, Naismith, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award, and Lute Olson Award preseason watchlists. Carey demonstrated exemplary skill in his preliminary games, scoring double-digit points and rebounds in numerous games throughout the season.

Carey was awarded the prized title of ACC Freshman of the Year and was selected to be the First Team All-ACC. Carey established an impressive average of 17.8 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks per game during his freshman run and won National Freshman of the Year honors from both the U.S. Basketball Writers Association and the National Association of Basketball Coaches. Nothing but stellar, he declared for the 2020 NBA draft by the end of the season.

The drafting process saw him picked up by the Charlotte Hornets as the 32nd pick of the 2020 NBA draft. Carey signed a multi-year contract with the Hornets at the end of November 2020 and made his first appearance on the professional stage later that year. His debut, although limited to a four-minute playtime, was not unnoticeable. In April 2021, he scored a career-high 21 points, in addition to six rebounds during a game against the Brooklyn Nets.

Carey’s career saw some movement as he found himself frequently assigned to the Greensboro Swarm from the Hornets during his rookie and sophomore years. These assignments were part of his continuous growth within the NBA G League affiliate. He was later traded alongside Ish Smith to the Washington Wizards in exchange for Montrezl Harrell in February 2022. Despite being waived by the Wizards in 2023, Carey was back on track soon, when he signed on with the Utah Jazz in April the same year.

Yet, his journey with the Jazz was short-lived as he was released following the 2023 NBA Summer League. Luckily, he soon found a new opportunity to demonstrate his prowess by signing with Pınar Karşıyaka of the Basketbol Süper Ligi in August 2023.

As well as his passion for the game, Carey’s motivation and inspiring work ethic can be seen as a legacy from his father, Vernon Carey, who was a celebrated player in the NFL with the Miami Dolphins from 2004 to 2011. His athletic lineage has undoubtedly helped shape his career, and he continues to traverse his path as a professional basketball player with an unwavering commitment to the game.