DURHAM, N.C. – The Associated Press announced its All-America Teams for the 2019-20 college basketball season Friday, with Duke freshman Vernon Carey Jr., being named to the Second Team and sophomore Tre Jones earning Third Team honors.
Carey and Jones become the 35th and 36th Blue Devils to be selected an All-American under head coach Mike Krzyzewski. He has coached an All-American in 32 of his 40 seasons at Duke, including each of the last 13.
Carey, who was named the ACC Freshman of the Year, was the only player ranked in the ACC’s top 10 in scoring (third, 17.8), rebounding (fourth, 8.8), field goal percentage (first, .577) and blocked shots (sixth, 1.6). The Miami, Fla., native posted 15 double-doubles on the season, which ranked second among NCAA freshmen and second in the ACC. Ten of his double-doubles were 20-10 performances, while 14 came as 15-10 games. Carey was second nationally among freshmen in scoring, third in field goal percentage and fourth in rebounds.
The ACC Player and Defensive Player of the Year, Jones was the floor general all season long for the Blue Devils. The sophomore team captain, who is also a finalist for the Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Award and the John R. Wooden Award, and a semifinalist for the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year, ranked sixth in the ACC in scoring (16.2), second in assists (6.4), fourth in assist/turnover ratio (+2.4), sixth in steals (1.8) and 11th in field goal percentage (.423). He was the only player ranked in the league’s top 11 in each of those categories. The native of Apple Valley, Minn., was a three-time ACC Player of the Week selection.
The AP All-American status comes as the latest postseason recognition for the Duke pair. Carey was also named a second-team All-American by Sporting News magazine, Sports Illustrated and CBS Sports – who additionally touted him as the Freshman of the Year – as well as the USBWA District III Player of the Year. Jones was named to the USBWA All-District team, earned second team All-American status by USA Today and third team honors by Sports Illustrated and CBS Sports.
Carey and Jones helped lead the Blue Devils to a 25-6 overall record and 15-5 mark in the ACC.
