Miami Basketball target Vernon Carey Jr whose father played offensive line with the Hurricanes recently won a Gold Medal with USA Basketball. Carey started all seven games for the United States’ team at the Under 17 FIBA World Championships.
Carey averaged 11 points and 6.9 rebounds in the tournament that was played in Santa Fe, Argentina. He could become the kind of program-changing player for Miami Basketball that many thought Lonnie Walker would become last season.
Hurricanes Head Coach Jim Larranaga said earlier this year that Carey can create a legacy for Miami Basketball. Carey is considering Miami, North Carolina, Kentucky, Duke and Michigan State. Duke is considered to be the leader.
Carey was one of two Americans named All-Tournament team. The FIBA Under 17 Tournament is played Bi-Annually.
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Carey showed all-around skill in the seven games. In addition to the 11 PPG and 6.9 RPG, he added seven assists, four blocks and six steals. Carey shot 59 percent from the floor but made just nine of 16 from the free throw line.
The second highest ranked player in the country, Carey would be the highest ranked signee in the history of the Miami basketball program. Walker who was 16th in the Class of 2017 currently holds that distinction.
Carey spoke about what is meant to him being named to the all-tournament team, his thoughts on the Gold Medal game and the experience of playing in the tournament.
"“It means a lot, just knowing there were 16 teams here representing and they chose me as one of the five players. It means a lot…We started off a little slower than we usually do, but we picked it up in the second half.The experience was really good. It was way different than last year (FIBA Americas U16 Championship). The location, the teammates, everything. It was great.“"
Carey was the MVP in the U16 Americas Tournament.
James Wiseman from Memphis is currently first in the Class of 2019. Carey is the highest ranked power forward and top-ranked player in Florida for 2019. Jalen Green a shooting guard who is the top-ranked player in the Class of 2020 was named the tournament’s most outstanding player.
Miami rising Junior Dejan Vasiljevic was named to the All-Tournament team in the U 17’s while playing for Australia in 2014. Other players that have made the U-17 All-Tournament team include former Florida Star and current Washington Wizard Bradley Beal and the Miami Heat’s Justise Winslow.
The U.S. won the Gold Medal with a 95-52 victory over France. The Americans were never seriously challenged throughout the tournament. France had won all six of their tournament games entering the Gold Medal match.
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The Americans outscored their opponents 749-373 in the seven games. That’s an average margin of victory of 107-53.3.