In a move that would excite the faithful of Duke Blue Devils, reports are circulating that former five-star recruit and one-time national champion Vernon Carey Jr. is “coming home” — returning to Duke as a graduate transfer. The news has stirred renewed optimism among fans, who remember his dominant freshman season and the promise he once embodied.
Carey first burst onto the scene at Duke in 2019 after being ranked among the top high-school prospects in the nation. As a freshman, he averaged 17.8 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks per game — leading the team in scoring, rebounding, and shot-blocking. He was consequently named ACC Freshman of the Year and earned consensus All-American honors. Following that season, Carey declared for the 2020 NBA Draft.
His professional journey since then has been rocky. Selected 32nd overall by the Charlotte Hornets, Carey had stints in the NBA with the Hornets and later the Washington Wizards before being waived. Many analysts felt his physical tools — size and strength — had potential, but his game didn’t quite adapt to the evolving demands of pro basketball, particularly on the defensive end.
If the reports are accurate and Carey indeed returns to Duke as a graduate transfer, it could be a high-stakes win both for him and the Blue Devils. For Carey, it’s a chance at redemption: to reclaim his old form, refine his game, and maybe recapture the national prominence he once enjoyed. For Duke, adding a former All-American and someone who already knows the system could provide a boost in experience, depth, and front-court muscle.
Only time will tell if the reunion yields the success supporters hope for — but hope, for now, is very much alive in Durham.
