Tennessee on Monday received a commitment from former North Carolina and Vanderbilt center Jalen Washington, completing a nine-man transfer portal haul that is providing the Volunteers stout optimism heading into their 12th basketball season under coach Rick Barnes.
Washington, a 6-foot-10, 245-pounder from Gary, Indiana, spent his first three years playing for the Tar Heels before transferring to Vanderbilt. He averaged 8.9 points and 5.6 rebounds during 36 games for the Commodores this past season, which included nine starts.
Should Washington sign with the Vols, he would be the biggest player on their 2026-27 roster that also contains the inside contingent of DeWayne Brown II, who returned from last season’s Elite Eight team, Miles Rubin (Loyola of Chicago), Braedan Lue (Kennesaw State) and Christian Fermin (VCU).
Washington entered the transfer portal after last season and appeared finished with college competition when the NCAA passed its new rule of athletes having five years to play five seasons. The NCAA never intended for the rule to apply to those who completed their fourth seasons of eligibility in 2025-26, but U.S. District Court of Colorado Judge Charlotte Sweeney issued an injunction this past Friday against the NCAA, allowing all class of 2022 athletes a fifth-year of eligibility.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com.