Vernon Carey: Going To the Glass Takes Care of Everything Else

Freshman big man is still learning how to play the post

Vernon Carey Jr. is still learning how to play the post. The freshman big man played wing in high school and had no post moves when he arrived at Duke. Everything he’s shown in the paint is something he’s learned since arriving on campus over the summer.

“Coach Nate James is working with me a lot,” he said.

The 6-foot-6 James was a swing man in college, but he’s the biggest of Duke’s assistant coaches.

So far, James seems to be teaching a master class. Carey has showcased a wide variety of post moves and has hit 69.6 percent of his shots this season, including 13 of his last 15. He recorded his first career double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds against Central Arkansas on Tuesday.

The 10 boards more than doubled his total in the first two games combined (9) and was a point of emphasis going into the game.

“Especially being aggressive toward the glass,” Carey said. “(The coaches) said if I go toward the glass, that’s going to take care of everything else. Just that and staying more aggressive all over.”

Carey has been learning how to prepare and focus at the college level.

“My mindset just from pregame,” he said. “Just everything got me a little bit extra before the game.”

Carey is obviously picking up the post game very quickly.

“I felt more relaxed and more comfortable with everything out there,” he said.

The toughest part of learning the post for him hasn’t been a move, though. It’s his positioning in order to get the pass.

“Just to seal off people,” he said. “To have them sealed so I can catch it, instead of fighting (them) for it. It takes a little bit but I just got used to it mainly.”