Duke basketball: Dramatic weight loss from Vernon Carey Jr.

An NBA prospect has dropped 30 pounds since his final Duke basketball game.

The 2019-20 Duke basketball roster listed freshman Vernon Carey Jr. as a 6-foot-10, 270-pound center.

Now, the ACC Rookie of the Year has shed some serious weight, according to what his college head coach, Mike Krzyzewski, told the media this week:

“You’d be shocked. Vernon weighs 237 pounds now. His parents got mad at him, stopped feeding him. No, he’s really worked hard.”

A tweet (below) from David Furones of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel includes a picture of a thinner Carey Jr. at the Carey Family Foundation Golf Tournament in early October. Also in the picture is former Miami Dolphins offensive tackle Vernon Carey Sr. plus his youngest son, Jaylen Carey, a 2023 big man who could eventually wind up on the Duke basketball radar.

ALSO READ: Three 2023 recruits who should land Duke offers

Carey Jr., who averaged 17.8 points and 8.8 rebounds for a 25-6 Duke team before declaring for the 2020 NBA Draft, must have seen all the doubt that seems to be keeping his name either in the bottom half of the first round or at the beginning of the second round on most mock drafts.

Apparently, the South Florida native has responded by setting his eyes on a position change as a professional. No matter where he plays on the court, though, the weight loss should aid Carey Jr. in becoming a better defender, arguably his No. 1 weakness in Durham.

Will Vernon Carey Jr. be the first Duke basketball product off the board?

The 19-year-old could climb draft boards at the last minute and end up as a late lottery pick come Nov. 18. That said, Carey Jr. isn’t the Blue Devil whose stock has been trending upward as of late.

ALSO READ: Tre Jones trending toward lottery pick

Here’s what else Krzyzewski said about Carey Jr. plus the other two Blue Devils who left school early and are expected to hear their names at the draft in point guard Tre Jones and shooting guard Cassius Stanley:

“I talked to [Carey Jr.’s] agent two nights ago…Tre has got great representation also, and he’s really done well. He’s been out at P3 in California. He’s showing even more athleticism. Cassius is represented by a really good guy, his dad. We keep in constant communication with all of them…They’re anxious, but I think they’re all in good places.”

Coach K continued:

“I think they’ll end up well, hopefully with great organizations that will help — especially with Vernon, because he’s the youngest, to help in his development.”

It doesn’t seem as if Carey Jr. needs much help in terms of slimming down. Wherever he lands, though, it’ll be interesting to see how the All-ACC performer performs with his new frame.

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