JUCO Standout Corey Caulker Commits to ECU, Poised to Compete at Point Guard
East Carolina basketball has landed its first portal pickup of the offseason, adding a proven playmaker to its backcourt in Corey Caulker, a junior college point guard out of Eastern Florida State.
Photo via @CaulkerCorey on X.
The 6-foot, 180-pound floor general averaged 13.4 points, 4.3 assists, and 3.9 rebounds per game last season while leading one of the top JUCO programs in the country to a 23–7 record. Caulker brings immediate experience and production to a position of need in Greenville.
A Skilled, Steady Lead Guard
Caulker showed off his all-around game across 28 appearances as a sophomore. He shot 35.6 percent from three (47-of-132), connected on 76.8 percent of his free throws, and posted a 2.35 assist-to-turnover ratio, tallying 120 assists to just 51 giveaways. He also knocked down over 41 percent of his shots from the field and played major minutes as the engine of Eastern Florida State’s offense.
Climbing the Ladder
Originally from Sterling, Va., Caulker began his college career at Northern Virginia Community College, where he erupted for 23.8 points per game as a freshman. After transferring to Eastern Florida State, his role expanded into a more balanced, pass-first role and his stock only grew from there.
He picked up a wave of Division I interest this past year, including an offer from Louisville back in November. He also took official visits to North Texas and George Mason before ultimately deciding on East Carolina after an official visit to Greenville last weekend.
A Clear Path to the Floor
Caulker’s arrival sets him up to compete right away for the Pirates' starting point guard job. With Cam Hayes graduating and Julien Soumaoro leaving the team midseason, ECU enters the offseason with limited experience at the position. Tybo Bailey, who played limited minutes as a freshman, and Jayshayne Woodard, a 6-7 guard with combo ability, are the only known options returning with point guard potential.
Caulker brings more of a traditional point guard profile and seems poised to step into a major role immediately under head coach Michael Schwartz.