KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – University of Tennessee head men’s basketball coach Rick Barnes announced Tuesday the signing of Jaylen Carey.
A forward who already has a year of SEC experience on an NCAA Tournament team, Carey joins the Volunteers from Vanderbilt. He has two seasons of collegiate eligibility remaining.
“We are pleased to welcome Jaylen, as well as his great family, to Vol Nation. He is a tremendous person and his distinct passion for the game will blend in nicely with the culture of Tennessee basketball,” Barnes said. “Jaylen is a physical power forward with versatility who can play with his backet to basket or face up. He is a proven SEC competitor with excellent hands, superb offensive instincts, quality passing ability and a strong feel for the game. Jaylen’s style will complement the post players we already have and we cannot wait to get to work with him.”
Prior to spending this past season at Vanderbilt, Carey opened his career in 2023-24 at James Madison. Over his two years as a collegian, he owns averages of 7.5 points and 5.0 rebounds in just 17.4 minutes per game, along with a 56.5 percent field-goal clip.
Carey has 20 double-digit point totals thus far, including notching 14-plus seven times and 18 twice. The 6-foot-8, 265-pounder has pulled down 10-plus rebounds on six occasions, four times recording a double-double.
During the 2024-25 season, Carey averaged 8.0 points and 5.7 rebounds in 20.2 minutes per game for Vanderbilt. He grabbed six-plus rebounds in 17 of 33 games, aiding the Commodores to a 20-13 (8-10 SEC) record and their first NCAA Tournament trip since 2017.
Carey was at his best in SEC play, recording 9.5 points and 6.2 rebounds in 21.9 minutes per game across his 18 outings in league action. Seven of his 11 double-digit point totals came in conference competition, as did four of his five double-figure rebound performances and two of his three double-doubles.
One of Carey’s finest games came Feb. 15 in Knoxville when he tied a career high with 18 points, shooting 5-of-6 from the floor and 7-of-9 at the line, at Food City Center. The Davie, Fla., native added seven rebounds and three assists in the contest.
In 2023-24, Carey helped James Madison to its finest year in program history, as the Dukes went 32-4 (15-3 SBC) and reached the NCAA Tournament Round of 32. He averaged 7.0 points and 4.8 rebounds in just 14.9 minutes per game, plus shot 66.9 percent from the field.
Carey scored in double figures nine times as a freshman and tallied one double-double. He scored 13 points on 6-of-7 shooting in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament title game victory over Arkansas State.
A graduate of Westminster Academy, Carey averaged 14.7 points and 10.1 rebounds per game as a senior. He was an all-state selection as a junior after putting up greater than 19.0 points, 13.0 points, 3.0 assists and 3.0 blocks per game.
Carey was a 2022 All-Nike EYBL Peach Jam Second Team designee after averaging 15.2 points, 10.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.8 blocks and 1.0 steal per game in the prestigious tournament. Competing for Nightrydas Elite, he also collected All-Defensive Team recognition.
Before Carey, the last Floridian on Tennessee’s roster was Derek Reese in 2015-16, Barnes’ first season at the helm. Carey follows eight prior letter winners from the Sunshine State, a group that includes Dyron Nix and Austin “Red” Robbins.
Carey’s father, Vernon Sr., was an All-American and national title-winning offensive lineman at Miami. He was the No. 19 pick in the 2004 NFL Draft and played eight seasons with the Miami Dolphins. Carey’s brother, Vernon Jr., was an All-American basketball player at Duke, where he was the 2020 USBWA National Freshman of the Year. He was the No. 32 pick in the 2020 NBA Draft and currently plays professionally in Turkey.
On3 ranks Carey as the No. 38 player in the transfer portal, including 11th-best at the power forward position.
