Vanderbilt Commodores center Jalen Washington was recently awarded a fifth year of college eligibility after a Davidson County judge granted him a temporary injunction. Washington previously filed a lawsuit against the NCAA and its age-based eligibility rule, which was recently imposed. After spending three years with the North Carolina Tar Heels and last season with the Commodores, Washington has now found a new home.
Since he is now eligible for the 2026-27 campaign, Washington announced through his agent, Daniel Poneman, that he has committed to transfer to coach Rick Barnes’ Tennessee Volunteers. In his lone season with the Commodores, Washington averaged 8.9 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks in about 20.6 minutes in 36 games. He now adds size and interior defense to coach Barnes’ squad next year.
College basketball fans and spectators feel that Barnes is finding a way to compromise NCAA rules on eligibility and transfers. Barnes was publicly called out for his statement back in 2018 where he acknowledged the existence of cheating in college basketball and asserted that it will always happen. Tennessee is also one of Vanderbilt’s close rivals, which is a cause for fans’ frustration, coinciding with Washington’s fight for eligibility.
“Wow Rick Barnes is cheating again,” one user wrote.
Other users all over X/Twitter are happy for the move as it tremendously improves the Volunteers’ 2026-27 season roster.
Washington joins a Tennessee team that finished the 2025-26 campaign with an overall record of 25-12 (11-7 SEC). Coach Rick Barnes and company reached the Elite Eight of the 2026 national tournament. There, they were unfortunately eliminated by the eventual national champions, the Michigan Wolverines, with a 95-62 blowout.
Jalen Washington is the second consecutive Vanderbilt Commodores big man to transfer to Rick Barnes
Jalen Washington committing to transfer to coach Rick Barnes’ Tennessee Volunteers is the second straight time a Vanderbilt Commodores big man transferred to Tennessee. In the previous offseason, then third-year forward Jaylen Carrey did the same after spending his second year at Vanderbilt. In his lone campaign with the Commodores, he averaged 8.0 points and 5.7 rebounds in about 20.2 minutes in 33 games.
During Carrey’s junior stint this past season with the Volunteers, he posted averages of 7.4 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in 18.5 minutes in 37 games. At the moment, Washington and Carrey will be sharing the court and will prepare for the upcoming college basketball season as part of a bolstered Volunteers frontcourt.
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