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UNC Basketball: Vernon Carey Jr. to announce early?

By Zack Pearson

SPRINGFIELD, MA - JANUARY 15: Vernon Carey Jr. #22 of University School dribbles in a game against 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 dribbles in a game against 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) /
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Vernon Carey Jr. hopes to make his announcement during the early signing period in November right after he takes his official visits

Class of 2019 center Vernon Carey Jr. is one of the top players in the country and is being pursued by some top programs.

The five-star recruit is ranked No. 2 overall in the 247 Sports composite rankings and is getting ready to take his official visits ahead of the 2018-19 college basketball season. Carey Jr. took an official to Michigan State early in 2018 and currently has four more scheduled. Due to new NCAA rules, the recruit could find himself taking another visit to Michigan State, giving him six officials in his recruitment.

His first visit of this Fall period will take place this weekend when he heads to Kentucky to visit the Wildcats. Following that, he plans on taking visits to Duke, Miami, North Carolina and Michigan State in the coming weeks.

Carey Jr.’s official for UNC is scheduled for the weekend of Nov. 2, just days before the Tar Heels open the season on the road at Wofford on Nov. 6.

As of now, the Tar Heels have the final official visit scheduled unless he does go to Michigan State in the weeks after. That could  be a good thing for UNC as they can hopefully leave a big lasting impression.

While Carey Jr. has his officials set, the question now remains on when he will actually announce his decision. Over the past weekend, Carey Jr. participated in the USA Basketball October Minicamp in Colorado Springs and spoke with reporters, revealing when a decision will likely come.

He told the USA Today High School Hoops blog that he plans on signing during the early signing period this November.

“After I take my officials, I’ll probably get my decision over with,” Carey said. “I should know by then. My goal is to sign during the Early Signing Period. If it’s with another big, I think that’s great, but either way it’ll be what I feel is the best situation for me.”

During the interview, Carey Jr. said that some of the schools on his list were focusing on him being the elite big man while others were hoping to pair him with another elite big man. He brought up Kentucky and Duke as schools that he saw pairing up with an elite big man as working in the past.

The good news for UNC is that they have an elite big man verbally committed with Armando Bacot. The five-star center offered his verbal back in August, giving UNC a good start to their 2019 class.

UNC to play in secret scrimmage against defending champions. dark. Next

For now it appears that Duke or Michigan State are the two teams to beat here with Kentucky picking up some momentum. But don’t fully count out UNC or Miami yet.

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