High schools
University School’s Vernon Carey Jr., left, has been named Florida’s Mr. Basketball.
After leading University School to its first state title, Vernon Carey Jr. has been named Florida Dairy Farmers Mr. Basketball.
The 6-foot-10 forward averaged 26 points, 13 rebounds and four blocks per game for a Sharks team that currently sits 31-1 on the season. University School, which routed Ocala Trinity Catholic 80-40 in the Class 5A state championship game, will play in the GEICO Nationals this weekend in New York City.
The nation’s top-ranked junior prospect, Carey Jr. was a dominant force all season long, using his size and athleticism to bully opponents. The junior also earned Sun Sentinel small school Player of the Year honors as well. Carey Jr. — a five-star prospect — has narrowed his recruitment to eight schools: Duke, UNC, Miami, Michigan State, Kansas, UCLA, Florida and Kentucky.
In the voting, which is determined by media members across the state, Carey notched 10 of the 21 firstplace votes and 136 points to finish ahead of Orlando Christian Prep’s Nassir Little of Orlando Christian Prep, who received seven first-place votes and 118 points.
University School, ranked No. 2 in the nation by USA Today, will face Phoenix’s Shadow Mountain at noon on Friday in a quarterfinal matchup airing on ESPNU from Christ the King High in Queens.
Westminster Academy’s Zach Scott, the Class 4A Player of the Year, finished sixth in the Mr. Basketball voting.
Leesburg’s Sean Campbell was named Florida Dairy Farmers Coach of the Year. Blanche Ely’s Melvin Randall finished third in the voting, while University School’s Adrian Sosa placed fifth and Westminster Academy’s Ehren Wallhoff came in eighth.