Best left-handed Duke basketball players of the past decade
The best Duke basketball lefties of the past decade
HONORABLE MENTION No. 2: Vernon Carey Jr.
It was difficult leaving Vernon Carey Jr. off this list, but the competition he faced for a spot in the top five was just too strong. Carey Jr is really one of the only true lefthanded big men to play for Duke over the last 10 years. He may have had his one and only season as a Blue Devil cut short, but what he was able to do in the regular season was nothing short of spectacular.
Simply put, Carey Jr was dominant all year long for Duke and was one of the most productive and efficient big men in the country.
Coming into the 2019-20 season, there were a lot of question marks surrounding how Carey Jr. would perform at the next level. He was a force in high school, putting up gaudy numbers but doing so against less than stellar competition. He was also a guy who didn’t do most of his damage in the low post despite being 6-foot-10. There were also concerns about what type of shape Carey Jr. was in and also about his offensive and defensive motor.
Right from the jump at Duke, Carey Jr. was able to dispel any questions or concerns. He showed that he was an extremely versatile player and an overall load for opposing teams to deal with. It took Carey Jr. just three games to register his first double-double. He then followed up that performance with 20 points and 14 rebounds and then 31 points and 12 rebounds.
It wasn’t just the fact that Carey Jr. was lefthanded that made him unique. He dominated in a very different type of way than other dominant Duke bigs over the last few years, such as Marvin Bagley III or Jahlil Okafor.
Carey Jr. wasn’t the most athletic big man nor did he have endless low post moves, but he certainly knew how to be effective. He did not play down low very much in high school, but you would never be able to tell just by watching his highlights as a Blue Devils. Carey Jr. was nearly unstoppable when he got deep post position. It was either going to be a bucket or a foul.
Vernon Carey Jr. lived on the foul line the entire 2019-20 season. He understood positioning and had the physicality to carve out space and create angles for himself.
He also served as a solid rim protector for the Blue Devils. He finished with 49 blocks, which was good for sixth-best in the ACC. Carey Jr. was really Duke’s only rim protector, and he handled it very well. He was a good low-post scorer and solid defender, but where he really made his mark was on the glass.
Carey Jr. dominated the boards a season ago. He finished second in the ACC in total rebounds with 242. It seemed like almost every game Carey Jr. was putting up double-digit rebounding numbers. His ability to control the defensive glass allowed the Blue Devils to get out in transition and play the uptempo style of offense they wanted.
There were times a season ago when Carey Jr. was Duke’s only reliable offensive weapon. He was always aggressive on offense and looked to create scoring opportunities for himself. The big man averaged nearly 18 points per game, which was third-best in the ACC. It is even more incredible when you factor in that Carey played under 25 minutes per game.
It is a shame that we never got to see Carey Jr. in tournament play. Due to these unprecedented circumstances, it will be interesting to see how Carey Jr.’s legacy at Duke will be remembered. He was not a guy who would have a bunch of highlight plays or would wow you with his style of play. However, Carey Jr. was extremely effective and put up big numbers all year to help Duke win 25 games.
Now, let’s look at the top five lefties…