Vernon Carey Jr.
Vernon A. Carey Jr. is an American professional basketball player who most recently played for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers in the NBA G League. He is a 6-foot-10, 270-pound forward/center who was born on February 25, 2001, in Miami, Florida.
Early life and high school
Carey attended NSU University School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where he became a five-star recruit and one of the top players in the 2019 class. He helped his team win multiple championships and earned national recognition for his talent, including McDonald’s All-American honors in 2019.
College career
Carey played one season of college basketball at Duke (2019–2020). He had a standout freshman year, helping Duke reach strong results and earning several major awards:
- ACC Freshman of the Year and First-Team All-ACC
- USBWA National Freshman of the Year and NABC Freshman of the Year
- On the preseason watch lists for national awards and was a top NBA prospect entering the 2020 draft
Professional career
Carey was selected by the Charlotte Hornets with the 32nd pick in the 2020 NBA draft. He signed with the Hornets in 2020 and made his NBA debut in December of that year. He recorded a career-high 21 points in a game in April 2021 and spent time with the Hornets’ G League affiliate, Greensboro Swarm, during his early seasons.
In February 2022, Carey was traded to the Washington Wizards. He played for the Wizards in the 2022–23 season before being waived in March 2023. He then signed with the Utah Jazz in 2023 but was released after the Summer League. In August 2023, he signed with Pınar Karşıyaka in Turkey for the 2023–24 season. By 2024–2025, he joined the Rio Grande Valley Vipers in the NBA G League.
Personal life
Carey is the son of Latavia and Vernon Carey, who played in the NFL for the Miami Dolphins from 2004 to 2011. He grew up in Florida and has earned multiple high-profile basketball awards at the high school and college levels.
This page was last edited on 1 February 2026, at 20:25 (CET).