April 30, 2019
DURHAM, N.C. – Duke Basketball Head Coach Mike Krzyzewski announced the addition of three student-athletes to the Blue Devils’ incoming class, as the program closes in on the nation’s No. 1-ranked class.
Vernon Carey Jr., Matthew Hurt and Cassius Stanley will enter the Duke program for the 2019-20 season, and join Wendell Moore and Rejean “Boogie” Ellis, who were signed during the early signing period in November.
With the addition of Carey, Hurt and Stanley, the Blue Devils jumped to No. 1 in ESPN’s 2019 class rankings. Should Duke finish at No. 1, it would mark the third consecutive season, and fifth time in the last six years, that Coach K landed ESPN’s top-ranked class.
Vernon Carey Jr. – 6-10 – 275 – Center – Southwest Ranches, Fla. – University School
· Five-star center
· Ranked as the No. 5 overall player in the ESPN 100 and the No. 3 center
· Top-ranked player in Florida
· Two-time USA Basketball gold medalist for the 2017 FIBA Americas U16 Championship and 2018 FIBA U17 World Cup.
· Averaged 21.7 points, 9.0 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game his senior year at the University School
· 2019 McDonald’s All-American and played in the Jordan Brand Classic
· 2018 MaxPreps Player of the Year as a junior
· As a junior in 2017-18, averaged 26.1 points and 10.4 rebounds to help his high school team to a 36-2 record, a 5A state title, the City of Palms Classic title and the final game of the GEICO High School Nationals.
· Chose Duke over ACC North Carolina, Miami, Michigan State and Kentucky
Matthew Hurt – 6-8 – 214 – Forward – Rochester, Minn. – John Marshall High School
· Five-star recruit
· Ranked No. 10 overall in the ESPN 100 and the No. 2 power forward
· Top-ranked player in Minnesota
· 2019 McDonald’s All-American
· Averaged 37.4 points and 12.4 rebounds per game as a senior
· Earned Associated Press Player of the Year for the state of Minnesota
· Finished with 3,550 career points and 1,451 career rebounds at John Marshall
· Continues a recent trend of Duke players from the state of Minnesota with brothers Tyus and Tre Jones (Apple Valley) and Gary Trent Jr., who played at Apple Valley HS before transferring to Prolific Prep in California
· Chose Duke over North Carolina, Kentucky and Kansas
Cassius Stanley – 6-5 – 185 – Guard – Los Angeles, Calif. – Sierra Canyon High School
· Four-star recruit
· Ranked No. 29 overall in the ESPN 100 and the No. 6 shooting guard
· Averaged 15.8 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game for Nike’s 17U EBYL team this past season
· Played in the Jordan Brand Classic
· Led Sierra Canyon to the California Open Division Championship his senior year, scoring 20 points and recording seven rebounds in the championship contest
· Recorded a team-best 17.7 points, grabbed 6.9 rebounds and registered 2.9 assists per game his senior year
· Named 2019 Daily News Player of the Year and CIF Open Division Player of the Year, which is considered the highest level of high school basketball in the state of California
· Second Duke player in three seasons from Sierra Canyon High, joining 2018 consensus first-team All-American and ACC Player of the Year Marvin Bagley III
· Chose Duke over Kansas, Oregon and UCLA
