Tennessee lands frontcourt player Jaylen Carey from Vanderbilt
By Pablo Cong
The Tennessee Volunteers have strengthened their frontcourt by adding transfer forward Jaylen Carey. The sophomore comes to Knoxville after a season with the Vanderbilt Commodores, averaging 8.0 points and 5.7 rebounds per game.
— Jaylen carey (@Jaylencarey1) April 7, 2025
Jaylen Carey began his collegiate career at James Madison University, spending one season with the Dukes before transferring to Vanderbilt University. He has played under head coach Mark Byington at both programs, finding success and continuing to develop his game under Byington’s leadership.
His familiarity with Coach Byington’s system allowed him to transition smoothly, and that consistency has paid off. Over two seasons, Carey has developed into a tough, dependable post player who can anchor a defense, score in the paint, and contribute on the offensive glass. His experience, physicality, and coachability make him a valuable addition to the Tennessee and Rick Barnes program.
Carey provides Tennessee with much-needed size, toughness, and depth in the frontcourt, addressing one of the team’s key offseason priorities. His addition is a strong step forward as the Volunteers target skilled and physical big men in the transfer portal. Carey plays with relentless energy, excels at crashing the offensive boards, and brings a blue-collar mentality to the paint. His sturdy 6-foot-8 frame allows him to hold his position defensively, absorb contact, and battle effectively in the post, making him a valuable asset on both ends of the floor.
With the addition of Carey, Tennessee now has 10 projected scholarship players for the 2025-26 season. There could still be departures yet, however. Rick Barnes and staff have done great work so far in the portal, but they’ll still have more to do in the weeks ahead.
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(Featured Image Credit: Vanderbilt Athletics)