FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (May 4, 2021) – Northern Arizona head men's basketball coach
Shane Burcar announced the addition of Colin Carey, a 6-6 versatile wing out of Peoria's Sunrise Mountain High School, on Tuesday. Carey is the second prepster, joining
Jayden Jackson (Milwaukee, Wis./Whitefish Bay HS), in NAU's 2021 class.
"Colin is one of the better players in the state of Arizona, and we couldn't be more excited to add an in-state player," Burcar said. "He's a steal for us to get someone of his caliber for the class of 2021 at this time of year. He has a great future for us and he can play multiple positions."
Carey was one of the best players in Arizona's 5A Conference as a senior, ranking sixth with 20.1 points and seventh with 8.2 rebounds in his final season at Sunrise Mountain. Carey's efforts earned him a spot on the 5A All-Conference Second Team in addition to 5A Northwest All-Region and West Valley Preps First Team honors.
Carey, the 5A Northwest Region and Peoria Unified District Player of the Year, shot 48 percent from the field and connected at a 36 percent clip behind the arc as a senior, with both percentages marking his best of his career. Carey also averaged 1.0 steals and 1.1 blocks per game.
His All-Region First Team honor was his second straight, following a junior season in which he averaged 17.1 points and 7.0 rebounds per game. Carey garnered three all-region accolades overall – earning a Second Team nod as a sophomore – and for his career, he poured in 1,244 points and grabbed 489 rebounds.
Carey caught the attention of Burcar and his staff while attending NAU's Team Camp in the summer of 2019. He played his club ball for Factory, led by Kenny Mullins. Factory also produced current Lumberjack rising junior
Ajang Aguek and recent graduate
Chris Bowling.
"He is loyal; he played for the same club for three years and stayed at the same high school for all four years," Burcar said. "I like his loyalty. He came up to see us as a junior, so he saw the environment that we are building. Colin is the type of player we're looking to recruit."
NAU has officially announced five incoming Lumberjacks for the 2021-22 season. In addition to Carey and Jackson, the Lumberjacks are also bringing in three transfers in
Jalen Cone (Walkertown, N.C./Virginia Tech),
Justus Rainwater (Enumclaw, Wash./Florida Gulf Coast) and
Mason Stark (Chandler, Ariz./Northern State).
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