Ball Durham
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Vernon Carey Jr. receives national and ACC recognition after big week

By Kevin Connelly

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 22: James Akinjo #3 of the Georgetown Hoyas drives past Vernon Carey Jr. #1 of the Duke Blue Devils during the first half of their game at Madison Square Garden on November 22, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 22: James Akinjo #3 of the Georgetown Hoyas drives past Vernon Carey Jr. #1 of the Duke Blue Devils during the first half of their game at Madison Square Garden on November 22, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) /
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Vernon Carey Jr. of the Duke Basketball team received some big time recognition after his monster week in the 2K Empire Classic.

For the first time this season the Duke Basketball program has an ACC Freshman of the Week and a Co-Player of the Week in Vernon Carey Jr.

This week was Carey Jr.’s first breakout game as a Duke Blue Devil and what better place to do that than Madison Square Garden in the 2K Empire Classic.

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On Thursday night the Blue Devils dominated the California Golden Bears, winning 87-52 and were led by its freshman from Southwest Ranches, Florida.

Vernon Carey Jr. dropped 31 points, 12 rebounds, and four blocks in just 22 minutes which broke Shane Battier‘s record for the fewest minutes played in a 30-point game in Duke history.

Carey Jr. also joined Zion Williamson and Marvin Bagley III, who was in attendance, as the only Duke freshmen with at least 30 points, ten rebounds, and four blocks in a game.

Shooting 11-of-18 from the floor, making his lone 3-point attempt, and going 8-of-9 at the free throw line, Vernon Carey Jr. still had one game left in The World’s Most Famous Arena and it was a championship game against the Georgetown Hoyas.

For an encore performance, Vernon Carey Jr. posted his fourth straight double-double as the Duke Blue Devils won the 2K Empire Classic, defeating Georgetown 81-73 with 20 points and ten rebounds.

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In 28 minutes, the freshman was 8-of-14 from the floor, but struggled at the free throw line, only shooting 4-of-10.

On the season, Vernon Carey Jr. is averaging 18.3 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks per game while shooting 60.9% from the floor and 100% from 3-point range, despite only taking three attempts all season.

Vernon Carey Jr. shared the ACC Co-Player of the Week with Georgia Tech’s Michael DeVoe but the freshman in Durham was named as the NCAA Player of the Week by Andy Katz.

At 6-0 and holding the No. 1 ranking in the Associated Press Top-25 Poll, Vernon Carey Jr. and the Duke Blue Devils will try to keep things rolling this week as the team hosts Stephen F. Austin and Winthrop.

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