DURHAM, N.C. – The U.S. Basketball Writers Association has voted Duke freshman Vernon Carey Jr., as the District III Player of the Year, becoming the third consecutive Blue Devil to claim the honor.
Carey and sophomore teammate Tre Jones were named to the All-District Team, which is comprised of 10 Division I players in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Maryland.
Carey, who was named the ACC Freshman of the Year, is 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 has posted 15 double-doubles this season, which are ranked second among NCAA freshmen and second in the ACC. Ten of his double-doubles have been 20-10 performances, while 14 have come as 15-10 games. Carey is second nationally among freshmen in scoring, third in field goal percentage and fourth in rebounds.
Carey joins Marvin Bagley III in 2018 and Zion Williamson in 2019 as Duke’s third consecutive District Player of the Year. Since the 2003-04 season, the Blue Devils have touted 10 District Players of the Year, including eight in the last 10 seasons.
Jones, the ACC Player and Defensive Player of the Year, is sixth in the conference 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 is the only player ranked in the league’s top 11 in each of those categories. Jones is averaging 17.8 points over Duke’s last 16 games.
The Blue Devils have been represented by two or more players on the All-District Team in 13 consecutive seasons, beginning in 2007-08.
The U.S. Basketball Writers Association Men’s All-District Teams are selected based on voting from the USBWA national membership of 900-plus. The USBWA has selected All-District Teams since the 1956-57 season, its founding year.
