Vanderbilt freshman big man Carter Lang plans to enter NCAA Transfer Portal

Vanderbilt freshman forward Carter Lang plans to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal, according to On3’s Jamie Shaw. Lang will have multiple years of eligibility remaining.

Lang, who is 6-foot-9 and specializes as a post player, appeared in 24 games as a true freshman. He averaged nearly 12 minutes per game.

Lang played high school basketball at St. Anne’s-Belfield (Va.) School, where he was a three-star prospect. He was the No. 211 overall recruit in the 2023 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

To keep up with the latest players on the move, check out On3’s Transfer Portal wire.

Vanderbilt is undergoing a transformation with a new coach

The program announced in late March that it had tabbed James Madison head coach Mark Byington to lead the program. He is fresh off a Round of 32 appearance in the NCAA Tournament with James Madison, having fallen to Duke to end the season.

“I’m thrilled and honored to be the head men’s basketball coach at Vanderbilt University. I know Commodore fans are eager for success and we will get there together,” Byington said in a press release. “I was blown away by the passion and enthusiasm of Vice Chancellor and Athletic Director Candice Storey Lee and Chancellor Daniel Diermeier. We share the same vision that Vanderbilt basketball belongs as one of the nation’s elite programs. I look forward to meeting the fans, alumni, students and all of Commodore Nation. Our time is coming. Get ready!!!”

Byington has been at James Madison for four seasons now, where he has helped orchestrate a remarkable run.

In addition to the NCAA Tournament appearance this season, the 2022-23 campaign saw the Dukes win 22 games, the most for the program since the 1981-82 season had a program record 24. Before that campaign, Byington was named the Best X-and-O Coach in the Sun Belt Conference, as voted on by the league’s coaches.

In 2022-23, JMU set season records for total points (2,658), total rebounds (1,257), total steals (298) and steals per game (9.03), while the Dukes’ scoring average of 80.5 points per game was the third-highest in their Division I history.

Byington has previous coaching stops at Georgia Southern (head coach), Virginia Tech (assistant coach), College of Charleston (interim coach and assistant coach), Virginia (director of operations and graduate manager) and Hargrave Military Academy (assistant coach).