Duke basketball: Predicting where Blue Devils land in 2020 NBA Draft

A 2020 mock draft for Duke basketball players: Vernon Carey Jr.

• NBADraft.net: No. 22 overall
• NBA Draft Room: No. 35 overall
• Tankathon: No. 30 overall
• Fueled by Sports: No. 24 overall
• CBS Sports (Matt Norlander): No. 17 overall
• AVERAGE: No. 26 overall

Scouting report (via Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer): “Throwback big man with a modern touch … imposing post scorer … good at establishing position … slick footwork on his power moves … draws a ton of fouls … promise as a reliable spot-up 3-point shooter … solid ball-handler for a big man … great rebounder … stellar at grabbing the ball, staying patient, then scoring … overuses his dominant left hand … lacks the explosiveness or fundamentals to make up for his average wingspan … struggled as a ball-screen defender at Duke.”

Feeling from Ball Durham: Scrolling accolades of Vernon Carey Jr. — 2018-19 McDonald’s All-American, 2019-20 ACC Rookie of the Year, 2019-20 NABC National Freshman of the Year — his relatively low draft stock is puzzling. Sure, his bruiser-esque approach may not fit the league’s latest fad. But popular playing styles come and go. So maybe a wise franchise, around the middle of the first round, will realize the 20-year-old — the namesake of a former eight-year NFL offensive tackle — might just continue to efficiently score in bunches, even at the highest level.

PREDICTION FOR VERNON CAREY JR.: No. 22 overall (as it stands now, the Milwaukee Bucks would own this pick)

Oddly enough, this predicted order of Blue Devils coming off the board — No. 1 Vernon Carey Jr., No. 2 Cassius Stanley, and No. 3 Tre Jones — matches the jersey numbers they wore at Duke. On the other hand, come draft night, any possible stacking of the three is conceivable.

Stay tuned to Ball Durham for more news and views regarding Blue Devils in the 2020 NBA Draft and all things Duke basketball.