DURHAM, N.C. – Duke freshman Vernon Carey Jr., has been named ACC Freshman of the Week after averaging 21 points and 8.5 rebounds in helping lead the Blue Devils to rivalry wins over NC State and North Carolina in the final week of the regular season.
Carey dropped 17 points and grabbed seven rebounds with two blocked shots in Monday’s victory over the Wolfpack, and followed that with 25 points and 10 rebounds for his 15th double-double on Saturday versus the Tar Heels. For the week, Carey was 12-of-20 (.600) from the field and 18-of-22 (.818) at the free throw line.
The Miami, Fla., native continues to lead the ACC in field goal percentage (.577), is third in scoring (17.8), fourth in rebounds (8.8) and sixth in blocks (1.6) – the league’s only player ranked in the top 10 for all four categories. Of his 15 double-doubles, 14 have been 15-10 performances, while 10 have come as 20-10 efforts.
Carey has now earned ACC Freshman of the Week recognition five times this season, matching the number claimed by Zion Williamson last season. Among Blue Devils, only Jabari Parker (10), Austin Rivers (9), Jahlil Okafor (8) and Marvin Bagley III (7) won more ACC Freshman of the Week honors in a single season.
Duke will be back in action as the No. 4 seed in the ACC Tournament in Greensboro, N.C., where the Blue Devils (26-5) will face either NC State, Wake Forest or Pitt in the quarterfinals on Thursday at 2:30 p.m.
