VCU transfer center Christian Fermin visited Tennessee basketball on Wednesday, a trusted source told RTI. The Vols view Fermin as a potential missing piece on a team that already projects to be in the nation’s top 10 next season
Fermin played in just four games last season before taking a leave of absence to deal with a personal matter, the Richmond Times-Dispatch reported back in November.
The 6-foot-10, 225-pound center spent the first four years of his collegiate career at VCU before entering the transfer portal. Fermin produced in both his sophomore and junior seasons before tacking a leave of absence for the vast majority of his senior season.
As a junior, Fermin averaged 4.6 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.4 blocks in 19.4 minutes of action per game. The Pennsylvania native’s best statistical season came as a sophomore when he averaged 5.2 points, 4 rebounds and 1.4 blocks in 21.4 minutes per game. Fermin started all 38 games for the Rams that season.
Tennessee basketball is looking to add a big man with its final available roster spot for next season. The Vols currently return DeWayne Brown and added Loyola (Chicago) center Miles Rubin as well as Kennesaw State power forward Braedan Lue.
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Fermin would give Tennessee another capable big body to provide depth behind the duo of Rubin and Brown. The transfer target also played with Tennessee transfer commit Terrence Hill Jr. at VCU the last two years.
Tennessee lost six players to the transfer portal this offseason including J.P. Estrella (Michigan), Jaylen Carey (Missouri), Cade Phillips (Texas A&M), Bishop Boswell (Maryland), Amari Evans (Texas) and Clarence Massamba (UC Davis).
Rick Barnes and his staff rebuilt Tennessee’s roster with one of the nation’s best transfer hauls landing Cal combo guard Dai Dai Ames, VCU combo guard Terrence Hill Jr, Wake Forest shooting guard Juke Harris, Belmont shooting guard Tyler Lundblade, Kennesaw State forward Braedan Lue and Loyola (Chicago) center Miles Rubin.
That talented transfer class combined with returnees DeWayne Brown and Troy Henderson and Tennessee’s four-play prep recruiting class makes the Vols a legit contender next season.
