Tennessee power forward Jaylen Carey intends to enter the transfer portal after spending just one season in Knoxville, On3’s Joe Tipton first reported on Monday night.
Carey had an up-and-down junior season at Tennessee, averaging 7.4 points and six rebounds in his 37 games played. He had strong moments early in the season, especially in a three-game stretch against Houston, Kansas and Syracuse where he averaged 15.3 points and 8.7 rebounds.
The 6-foot-8, 267-pound forward played some of his best basketball at the right time of year. Carey had an 11-point, 10-rebound double-double in Tennessee’s win over Iowa State while also scoring 10 points against Virginia and eight points against Michigan.
But Carey struggled for much of SEC play including an 11 game stretch where he scored in double figures just once. Carey was an inefficient post scorer, shooting 48.7% from the field and 49.1% from the line.
Following Tennessee’s season-ending loss against Michigan, Carey told RTI that he intended to return to Tennessee for his senior season.
“If they want me back, I definitely do want to be here,” Carey told RTI. “I love it here. I definitely do want to change my body around. I want to get into the best shape and be more effective for them. That was a goal for me coming into the season this year and I let that part down. My main focus when I come back is I won’t let that happen again. That’s just the main focus.”
More From RTI: What Tennessee CG Bishop Boswell Said About Decision To Enter The Transfer Portal
But after returning to Knoxville and having conversations regarding financial compensation and other topics with Tennessee’s coaching staff, Carey is opting to enter the portal ahead of his final collegiate season.
Carey will finish his college career playing for four schools in four seasons. He started at James Madison before transferring to Vanderbilt and later Tennessee.
Carey is the fifth Tennessee player to announce plans to enter the transfer portal this offseason, joining Cade Phillips, Clarence Massamba, J.P. Estrella and Bishop Boswell.. However, Estrella is the first Tennessee starter to enter the portal. As things currently stand, Bishop Boswell is the only returning starter that the Vols have from last season’s Elite Eight team.
The Vols have also added one transfer to their roster when Belmont graduate transfer Tyler Lundblade signed with Tennessee over Illinois, Virginia, Baylor and Kansas State last week.
Tennessee now has five scholarships open for next season with nine outgoing players and four incoming players at the moment.
