Former Vanderbilt center Jaylen Carey has yet to play more than one season of college basketball at the same school. He played for two different teams as a freshman and sophomore and recently entered the transfer portal to presumably find a third home in three years.
If a recent change to his profile picture is any indication, it appears as though his plan is to cross enemy lines.
Carey, a former unranked college basketball recruit in the Class of 2023, received 10 scholarship offers out of high school. He ultimately committed to James Madison over Ole Miss, Ohio, Chattanooga, Bowling Green, Stetson and FAU, among others. The Dukes won 32 games during his freshman season and upset Wisconsin in the first round of the NCAA Tournament as a No. 12 seed.
Although Carey played only 14.9 minutes for James Madison, he made the most of his time on the floor. The 6-foot-8, 265-pound center averaged 7.0 points on 66.9% shooting and 4.3 rebounds per game.
Head coach Mark Byington was hired by Vanderbilt not long after March Madness and brought Jaylen Carey with him. His minutes increased to about 20 per game as a sophomore. He averaged 8.0 points and 5.7 rebounds. The Commodores won 20 games but did not make it out of the first round last month.
With his sophomore year behind him, Carey decided to transfer for a second time.
This next move will be a clean break from Byington. A return to Nashville does not appear to be an option. In fact, it seems as though he is going to play for Vandy’s biggest rival— Tennessee.
The two in-state rivals split their two-game series this season. They each won at home.
Carey finished with 14 points and a game-high 10 rebounds in their first meeting. He recorded 18 points and seven rebounds in their second.
Rick Barnes got a first-hand look at the undersized center and the Volunteers are looking to add another power forward for the 2025-26 season. Carey would fit well in the four spot alongside JP Estrella and and Felix Okpara. It may actually be a better role for him.
There is mutual interest between Jaylen Carey and Tennessee to the point that a deal might already be done. He changed his profile picture on X to an image of the Joker, which presumably alludes to the imminent commitment.
Things could change. Carey might get offered more money by another program to play elsewhere. Tennessee may decide he is not the right fit for its program after all. The transfer portal is fluid.
However, I do not expect him to land anywhere but Knoxville. Jaylen Carey’s profile picture seems to be the confirmation we needed that this is indeed happening. He’s going to transfer from Vanderbilt to Tennessee. Joker time.
Or…. maybe…. he is going to return to the Commodores and this was all a big ruse? That would be fun!