Tennessee loses another frontcourt member to the transfer portal, per report
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Tennessee suffered yet another loss to the transfer portal on Monday night, with forward Jaylen Carey planning to enter the portal when it officially opens for business on Tuesday.
Carey told On3 of his intentions to head elsewhere for the 2026-27 season. The 6-foot-8 junior was a key contributor for a Rick Barnes team that became the third straight Volunteers squad to advance to the Elite Eight. Carey averaged 7.4 points and 6.0 rebounds per game this past season, which ended with the Vols falling to Michigan in the Midwest Region final.
He’ll have 1 more year of eligibility left after a collegiate career that’s already been a whirlwind. Carey spent his freshman season at James Madison before transferring to Vanderbilt for his sophomore campaign. When that was over, he headed to SEC in-state rival Tennessee for his junior year, and now Carey appears to be headed for a 4th destination in 4 years of college basketball.
Carey’s looming transfer would already be the 5th Tennessee player to enter the portal, as Barnes faces a big challenge in replacing a ton of talent for next season. He can add Carey to the list after he made 37 appearances and 8 starts for the Volunteers this past season. Carey averaged 18.5 minutes per game.
Tennessee’s frontcourt is taking a particular hit, with Carey joining JP Estrella and Cade Phillips on the way out of Knoxville.
Carey played his high school basketball at Westminster Academy in Florida, and after 3 programs in 3 years during his college career, he has another decision to make about where he’ll end up next season.
Tennessee fell just short of making the Final Four for the third straight year, falling to Michigan, which is facing UConn right now with a chance to win it all in Indianapolis. Here is what the Kalshi market is currently saying about the odds for that battle on Monday night:
Cory Nightingale, a former sportswriter and sports editor at the Miami Herald and Palm Beach Post, is a South Florida-based freelance writer who covers Alabama for SaturdayDownSouth.com.
