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A new name to watch for Tennessee Basketball in the NCAA Transfer Portal

IMG_3593by: Grant Ramey04/04/25GrantRamey
Jaylen Carey
Feb 8, 2025; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Vanderbilt Commodores forward Jaylen Carey (22) slams the ball over Texas Longhorns forward Nic Codie (10) during the first half at Memorial Gymnasium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images

A new name to watch for Tennessee Basketball in the NCAA Transfer Portal could be Vanderbilt transfer Jaylen Carey. The 6-foot-8, 245-pound forward averaged 8.0 points and 5.7 rebounds in 20.2 minutes per game for the Commodores last season. 

Carey started his college basketball career at James Madison before following head coach Mark Byington to Vanderbilt. 

Carey played in both games against the Vols this season. 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. 

Tennessee’s biggest target in NCAA Transfer Portal: Ja’Kobi Gillespie

The biggest target for the Vols in the NCAA Transfer Portal remains Maryland guard Ja’Kobi Gillespie, who was visited by Tennessee’s coaching staff on Wednesday. A recruiting dead period went into place Thursday and runs through April 10.

Other names Tennessee has been connected with in the portal have been been Division II Lincoln Memorial wing Elyjah Freeman, Robert Morris forward Alvaro Folgueiras, Sam Houston State guard Lamar Wilkerson, UNC Greensboro guard Donovan Atwell and Maryland guard Rodney Rice, Gillespie’s teammate with the Terps this season.

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.  

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

Tennessee’s current roster is scheduled to return most of its forwards, in sophomores Cade Phillips and JP Estrella, and junior in Felix Okpara.

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.

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