NCAA Basketball: 10 best players from state of Florida of last decade

8. Vernon Carey Jr. – Duke

Had the national pandemic not arrived or had he stayed more than a single season in the college game it’s very likely that Carey would’ve been higher on this list. A 6’10 center from Southwest Ranches, who starred in Fort Lauderdale, Carey was a five-star prospect who found his way to Duke, playing for the Blue Devils for just the 2019-20 season, one in which Duke won 25 games and finished second in the ACC.

Carey played a starring role for those Blue Devils, averaging 17.8 points and 8.8 rebounds per game. He accumulated a great number of double-doubles, including a 31-point, 12-rebound game in a win over California and a 26-point, 17-rebound effort in a win at Syracuse. Carey was also instrumental in a season sweep over rival North Carolina, including in his final game before the end of the season was cancelled.

Carey was a Second Team All-American for his efforts as a freshman, also racking up ACC Rookie of the Year and First Team All-ACC honors. He led the ACC in field goal percentage, free throws, and efficiency, while also ranking near the top of the league in points, rebounds, and blocks. Off to the NBA after that freshman campaign, he’s seen limited time in the league after being drafted in the second round by the Charlotte Hornets, with his efforts at the collegiate level clearly more impactful.