Vernon Carey Jr.
A powerful big man who transitioned from a top-tier high school prospect to a professional basketball player forging his path in the G League.
Born 2001 (age 25)·American basketball player·Birthday: February 25·Generation Z
Biography
Vernon Carey Jr. grew up under the bright lights of basketball expectation, the son of an NFL lineman and a standout athlete in his own right. His dominance at Florida's NSU University School made him a national name, a five-star recruit whose blend of size, strength, and soft touch around the basket had major programs lining up. He chose the legacy of Duke University, where in a single season he showcased his scoring prowess and rebounding tenacity. Drafted by the Charlotte Hornets, his professional journey has been one of development, honing his game with the franchise's G League affiliate. Carey represents the modern trajectory of a highly-touted big man: adapting his physical, back-to-the-basket game to the pace and space demands of today's NBA, proving his worth one possession at a time.
Generation Z
1997–2012
Born into smartphones, social media, and school shootings. The most diverse generation in history. Pragmatic about money, fluid about identity, anxious about the climate. They do not remember a world before the internet.
Vernon was born in 2001, placing them squarely in the Generation Z. The events that shaped this generation — social media, climate anxiety, and a pandemic — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Vernon Was Born
The biggest hits of 2001
#1 Movie
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Best Picture
A Beautiful Mind
#1 TV Show
Survivor
Vernon's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
2001Born
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2006Started school
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2014Became a teenager
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2017Could drive
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2019Could vote
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2022Turned 21
Russia invades Ukraine; Queen Elizabeth II dies
Gas: $3.97/galHome: $348,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"As It Was" — Harry StylesBest Picture: Everything Everywhere All at Once
2026Age 25 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Was a consensus five-star recruit and McDonald's All-American, ranked among the top players in the 2019 high school class.
- Played one season for the Duke Blue Devils, earning ACC All-Freshman Team honors.
- Was selected with the 32nd overall pick by the Charlotte Hornets in the 2020 NBA Draft.
Did You Know?
His father, Vernon Carey Sr., played offensive tackle in the NFL for the Miami Dolphins and Baltimore Ravens.
He was named Florida's 'Mr. Basketball' in 2019 after a stellar high school career.
In his NBA debut for the Hornets, he scored 8 points and grabbed 4 rebounds in just 9 minutes of play.
“My dad taught me to play through contact and finish at the rim.”
