Tennessee Basketball announces signing of transfer forward Jaylen Carey
Tennessee Basketball on Tuesday announced the signing of Vanderbilt transfer forward Jaylen Carey. The 6-foot-8, 245-pound Carey announced his commitment to the Vols Sunday night, giving Rick Barnes his second addition out of the NCAA Transfer Portal following Maryland point guard Ja’Kobi Gillespie.
“We are pleased to welcome Jaylen, as well as his great family, to Vol Nation,” Barnes said in a press release Tuesday announcing the signing. “He is a tremendous person and his distinct passion for the game will blend in nicely with the culture of Tennessee basketball.”
Carey averaged 8.0 points and 5.7 rebounds in 20.2 minutes per game for the Commodores this season. Gillespie committed to Tennessee Friday and his signing was announced on Monday.
Carey started his college basketball career at James Madison before following head coach Mark Byington to Vanderbilt.
He had 18 points, seven rebounds and three assists before fouling out in Vanderbilt’s loss at Tennessee in February. He had 14 points and 10 boards in the Vandy’s win over the Vols in Nashville in January.
“Jaylen is a physical power forward with versatility,” Barnes said, “who can play with his back to the basket or face up. He is a proven SEC competitor with excellent hands, superb offensive instincts, quality passing ability and a strong feel for the game. Jaylen’s style will complement the post players we already have and we cannot wait to get to work with him.”
Ja’Kobi Gillespie committed to Tennessee Friday afternoon
Gillespie had been the biggest target for Tennessee in the NCAA Transfer Portal since he entered on Monday. He was visited by Tennessee’s coaching staff on Wednesday.
Gillespie started all 36 games at Maryland this season, averaging 14.7 points and 4.8 assists in 31.6 minutes per game while shooting 45.3% from the floor and 40.7% from the 3-point line, where he made 87 of 214 attempts.
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He played his first two seasons of college basketball at Belmont, averaging 12.9 points, 3.7 assists, 2.8 rebounds and 1.8 steals in 26.2 minutes per game, starting 32 times in 57 games with the Bruins.
He averaged 17.2 points, 4.2 assists and 2.2 steals in 31.4 minutes per game as a sophomore in 2023-24, starting 24 times in 25 games.
Tennessee scheduled to return three post players, one guard
Tennessee’s current roster is scheduled to return three forwards in sophomores Cade Phillips and JP Estrella and junior in Felix Okpara and one guard in Bishop Boswell.
The Vols are set to lose six seniors in total, including seniors Zakai Zeigler, Jahmai Mashack, Jordan Gainey and Igor Milicic Jr., and fifth-year seniors in Chaz Lanier and Darlinstone Dubar.
The Vols entered this season with two open scholarships, giving Rick Barnes and his staff six openings to work with in the NCAA Transfer Portal.
Tennessee has signed two players in its 2025 recruiting class, four-star guard Amari Evansand four-star center Dewayne Brown, and has a commitment from Virginia point guard Troy Henderson.
