Vanderbilt transfer forward Jaylen Carey watched Tennessee’s Zakai Zeigler and Jahmai Mashack talk about Rick Barnes following the Vols’ season-ending loss against Houston in the Elite Eight and knew that he wanted to be a part of something like the Vols’ program.
Carey found just that, publicly committing to Tennessee basketball on Sunday night after spending his sophomore season at Vanderbilt.
“You could tell in watching how they expressed after the loss (to Houston) at the podium after March Madness, I was seeing that video and seeing that, I just wanted to be a part of that,” Carey told RTI on Sunday night.
The 6-foot-8 forward was impressed with Tennessee’s effort and physicality in the two meetings between the instate rivals this season. Combining that with his desire to play for veteran head coach Rick Barnes and Tennessee was the right spot for Carey.
“Just Rick Barnes past. Proving that he can put guys in the league at my position and also being that winning culture, playing the Vols last year twice,” Carey said. “I wanted to be a part of that. I wanted to have that experience and have a guy that’s going to push you everyday and even on days where you’re not feeling it and on days where you don’t want to be pushed, he’s still going to be there.”
How quickly was Carey drawn to Tennessee? After being in contact with Tennessee associate head coach Justin Gainey, the Vols’ coaching staff set up a Zoom call with Carey last Thursday to discuss the potential fit. The rising junior was ready to be a Vol going into the meeting.
“I told my parents … I might commit,” Carey said. “It’s just something in me that wants to play for Coach Barnes and his staff. We got on the Zoom and had a good Zoom. We talked for 40 minutes and it was a great talk. I kind of told them after the Zoom, ‘hey, I’m going to commit to you and the Vols. I want to be a Vol.’ It was a lot of excitement. It was kind of hard the last four days not being able to say anything.”
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Carey averaged eight points and 5.7 rebounds per game in his sophomore season at Vanderbilt but got better as the season went on and averaged 9.5 points and 6.2 rebounds for the Commodores in SEC play. At 6-foot-8, 265 pounds, Carey is a force inside. He plays bigger than his height and is a strong low post scorer.
“Coach Barnes says he sees a dog in me. He said I got a rottweiler in me,” Carey said. “He’s going to let me off the chain. Just bringing that physicality and whenever we need a bucket in the post to deliver.”
The Davie, Florida native played the five-spot for Vanderbilt due to the Commodores lack of interior size but is more of a natural four-man. Carey ability to improve as a three-point shooter will be key for him and Tennessee next season.
Carey made just nine three pointers at a 23% clip last season, but Barnes told him that he likes his shot and just thinks it needs some tweaking. Those shot adjustments and conditioning are two key offseason points for Carey.
“He (Barnes) said I have a beautiful shot,” Carey said. “It’s just one or two things that needs a little ick and it’ll be right there.”
Carey played two of his best games in his sophomore season against Tennessee. Now he finds himself in a strange spot, transferring 180 miles east on Interstate-40 to play for the Commodores most hated rival. He knows his transfer destination will make him unpopular on West End but isn’t worried about it.
“I’m a Vol now man,” Carey said. “I don’t care about no black-and-gold. I bleed orange now man. I don’t care about what they’ve got to say.”
