In some respects, Vernon Carey Jr. is a watered-down version of the friendly yet vicious star in Durham last season, Zion Williamson. And speaking of respect, the current Duke basketball freshman center does not garner as much as he should (which should bode well for the Blue Devils, but more on this theory to come).
Consider this: Both Carey Jr. and Williamson arrived at Duke as the fifth-best college-bound recruit from their respective classes, per the 247Sports Composite. Both are left-handed bruisers with plenty of dipsy-doo and soft touch around the basket.