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5 under-the-radar 2020 NBA Draft prospects Cavs should pay attention to this NCAAB season

By Tyler Meitin

Auburn Tigers forward Isaac Okoro handles the ball. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Auburn Tigers forward Isaac Okoro handles the ball. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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Cleveland Cavaliers
Duke Blue Devils center Vernon Carey Jr. drives. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

#3: Vernon Carey Jr.-C, Duke

Vernon Carey Jr. enters the 2019-20 NCAA basketball season with Duke as one of the NCAA’s more dominant big men and arguably a top-five center in general so far.

He has played well enough to match his daunted five-star status (and was also the sixth-highest rated player in his recruiting class, according to 247 Sports), and many have him projected as a mid-first round draft selection at this current moment.

He possesses a unique and even elite blend of quickness, size, and speed that allowed him to dominate so far early for the recently #1 ranked Blue Devils. He has averaged a clearly impressive 18.4 points, 9.5 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game, and is shooting 61.8% from the floor, according to Sports Reference.

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Carey Jr. is on a stretch of games in which he has had six straight double-doubles and does not appear to be slowing down by any stretch, either. He has just as much been a force down low on the defensive end as he is coming off a loss in which he had seven blocks against Stephen F. Austin, and has had a block in every game but one so far otherwise.

Assuming Carey Jr. continues this strong play, he very well could elevate his draft status towards being a potential lottery pick. He even has shown somewhat of an ability to stretch the floor, having hit each of his three-point attempts for the Blue Devils as well.

If he can prove he can consistently stretch the floor, his ceiling in the NBA is nearly limitless. Carey Jr. also fits relatively perfectly next to either Tristan Thompson or Kevin Love, as he brings another big, dominant presence down low for the team.

Carey Jr. is likely not currently worth the top five selection the Cleveland Cavaliers likely now hope to attain, but he remains an intriguing option and someone to clearly watch out for with the Cavaliers and any team given just how well he has played and projects to look in the NBA.