Charlotte Hornets second-round pick Vernon Carey Jr. revealed on draft night that he dropped 30 pounds over the extended offseason period. That weight loss is now beginning to pay dividends for the former Duke Blue Devils center in training camp.
Carey, who was the 32nd pick, was listed at 270 pounds while playing at Duke but dropped down to 240 pounds ahead of the draft. He hired a chef once his season ended and made it a focus to learn portion control while staying disciplined on which foods he ate.
With training camp officially underway, Carey said he has noticed a difference in his conditioning so far and believes that has helped him in the early going.