Tennessee basketball filled its final roster spot for the upcoming 2026-27 season on Thursday afternoon when VCU center Christian Fermin committed to Rick Barnes and his staff shortly after his midweek official visit.
The Vols quickly impressed Fermin with the effort and attention they showed and invested into him on his trip to Knoxville.
“The effort that everybody showed that they’re willing to pour into their players individually,” Fermin told RTI. “Like, I’ve been in college for a while and there’s not a staff I could say that was, as personal as this. Like, they really made me feel at home and I feel like everything that they have like the top of the notch as far as college basketball is concerned.”
Rick Barnes and his staff were looking to add a big man with its final roster spot to accompany DeWayne Brown, Loyola (Chicago) center Miles Rubin and Kennesaw State power forward Braedan Lue in the front court for next season.
The 6-foot-10 center with a 7-foot-4 wingspan brings defense and rebounding, particularly as a rim protector where he ranked in the top 50 nationally in block rate as both a sophomore and junior at VCU.
“Just coming in and like being at that five spot,” Fermin said of his role. “It’s coming in and being, like, a defensive player, obviously, like making plays at the rim. And, obviously, off the screen action is, like they run a lot of off-ball action. It’s just going and getting guards open, but also being obviously a lob threat coming off of those.”
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Fermin played for three different coaching staffs in his four years at VCU. But Fermin left the VCU program early during the 2025-26 season due to a personal matter. He ended up redshirting and maintaining his final year of eligibility.
“Really just how much I love basketball,” Fermin said on his season away. “It wasn’t like the best time being away from basketball or whatever at times. So I definitely just, I love being around a sport. It wasn’t an easy thing.”
Despite not playing last season, Fermin impressed Tennessee with the physical shape he was in during his visit.
Now entering a second senior season, the big man is looking to make the most of his opportunity with a program that’s made three straight Elite Eight appearances and projects as a top 15 team again next season.
“I mean, that’s like the best case scenario,” Fermin said. “Honestly it’s surreal to me. That’s a team, and that’s a coach that people grow up dreaming to play for. So for me to have an opportunity and for me to be able to go and be under his coaching staff from just learning from them and going to work with them every day, I’m just excited.”
Tennessee won’t ask Fermin to create much offense and his actual role will be determined over the next six months, but the VCU transfer is ready to play with max effort in his final collegiate season.
“I’m going to play hard. Like, I’m going to be a dog. That’s one thing about me. Like, I’m not going to take a play off. If I’m out there, I’m going to be giving it what I got. And I’m really going to submerge myself in the community out there.”
