Vernon Carey’s massive weight loss yielding results in Hornets’ camp
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.
“I’ve seen changes just with the fast pace with this team and me being able to go for longer periods of time without getting as tired as I did at the college level,” Carey said. “That’s something that I’ve definitely seen that’s changed.”
The Hornets have prioritized getting out and running this season on offense. The recent weight loss has helped Carey stay on the floor longer to run each time down the court and he also believes slimming down will help him guard smaller players on defense in pick-and-roll situations.
Carey made a living at Duke in the post given his size and strength but he still believes he will be effective down low despite the weight loss. The Hornets may not need Carey in the post as often this season but he can certainly still play there in different situations.
Teams are continuing preparations ahead of the preseason, which is scheduled to begin on Friday, leaving players with less than a week now to get ready. Carey certainly appears to be accepting that challenge before his first year in the NBA.
Charlotte begins preseason play on Dec. 12 vs. the Toronto Raptors.
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