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Michigan State Basketball: 5 reasons Vernon Carey Jr. will commit

By Connor Muldowney

SPRINGFIELD, MA - JANUARY 15: Vernon Carey Jr. of University School poses for a portrait during the 2018 Spalding HoopHall Classic at Blake Arena at Springfield College on January 15, 2018 in Springfield, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
SPRINGFIELD, MA - JANUARY 15: Vernon Carey Jr. of University School poses for a portrait during the 2018 Spalding HoopHall Classic at Blake Arena at Springfield College on January 15, 2018 in Springfield, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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SPRINGFIELD, MA – JANUARY 15: Vernon Carey Jr. #22 of University School goes for a layup while being guarded by David McCormack #33 of Oak Hill Academy during the 2018 Spalding Hoophall Classic at Blake Arena at Springfield College on January 15, 2018 in Springfield, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
SPRINGFIELD, MA – JANUARY 15: Vernon Carey Jr. #22 of University School goes for a layup while being guarded by David McCormack #33 of Oak Hill Academy during the 2018 Spalding Hoophall Classic at Blake Arena at Springfield College on January 15, 2018 in Springfield, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images) /

2. Chance to be ‘the guy’ if Nick Ward goes pro

While Nick Ward has been playing well this season and it’s something that has to intrigue a guy like Vernon Carey Jr. who will see plenty of time in the post, he’ll also realize that the junior big man is likely to head off to the NBA like he nearly did following his sophomore season.

Ward has likely seen his stock rise this season, going from a guy who could barely stay on the court for 15-20 minutes to one who is averaging 21.3 and is putting up career numbers in nearly every category.

The NBA will likely welcome the big man after another year of collegiate experience, despite the fact that he still doesn’t have a jumper and may not have the ideal size for a power forward or center, but he expressed interest in leaving already and the expectation was that he would stay at MSU for one more year.

With Ward likely gone, Carey Jr. would be “the guy” for the Spartans down low and as we’ve seen this season, he would benefit from a guy like Xavier Tillman grabbing some attention from defenders.

Carey Jr. is going somewhere where he can be the go-to guy, and that’s not a guarantee at Duke.

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