Tennessee basketball still doesn’t know whether Jalen Washington will be available this season, and that uncertainty is hanging over the frontcourt as preseason work continues.
Washington, the Vanderbilt transfer big man, was originally awarded a fifth year of eligibility along with a large group of class of 2022 players. But that changed after the Tennessee Court of Appeals issued an order staying the injunction that had previously allowed him to pursue that extra season, leaving him ruled ineligible for the 2026-27 season.
On Tuesday, Rick Barnes said Washington has already filed an appeal and is now in limbo while the process plays out.
“He has (filed an appeal),” Barnes said. “He’s waiting to hear the Tennessee case, obviously, to see what that’s going to lead to.
He’s from Indiana, and they cleared their players that play there. So maybe, I don’t know how it works, from a legal standpoint, could he refile there, which could be a possibility.”
Barnes didn’t hide the impact this could have on Tennessee’s rotation. The Vols do bring back DeWayne Brown II and add transfers Miles Rubin, Christian Fermin and Braedan Lue, but Washington is still viewed as a possible starter at center if he gets cleared.
“It’s a concern. It is a concern.
I mean, it changes some things with us,” Barnes said. “But we’re trying to prepare both ways.
Hoping for Jalen that it works because he deserves it. When you look around the country and see that there’s what, 150-some players that are eligible to play and another 200-some that can’t based on where they have filed their court cases.
It doesn’t seem fair when everybody is under the same association with the NCAA. I just don’t understand.
I mean, I understand it, but I don’t think it’s fair. You’d like to think that if there are 150 eligible, the other guys should be eligible regardless of where they filed their cases.
We hope it works out for him.”
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Dejuan Lane arrived in Knoxville with something to prove, and Tennessee has already given him a clearer lane to do it. A former four-star prospect, Lane came over from Penn State after two seasons that included limited starts, then found a familiar coaching connection waiting for him on Rocky Top. Since the move, he has stepped into a more meaningful role in the secondary, giving the Vols another transfer who fits both the need and the story line.
Lane recently added a little more edge to that transition with a social media post about being overlooked, though he did not say whether he was aiming that message at Penn State or someone else. For Tennessee, the intrigue is less about where the shot landed and more about what it says about the player taking it, because the Vols are betting on transfers who arrive with something to prove as much as they do with talent. [Read more 🡒]
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Faizon Brandon remains in the equation despite dealing with an injury, while George MacIntyre made the most of his limited snaps and gave the staff something to think about. Heupel has acknowledged the competition, but he has not made a call yet, leaving Tennessee with a real camp-style battle in the middle of the season and a little less clarity than it would like at the game's most important position. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessee Made A Real Impression On A Priority Tight End Target
Lee Steeles trip to Tennessee for the Auburn game gave the Volunteers another chance to show why they remain a major player for one of their priority tight end targets. The four-star recruit came away talking positively about the coaching staff, the atmosphere, and the way the program is developing players, all the kinds of details that matter when a prospect is weighing more than just wins and losses.
Steele said Tennessee is among the schools near the top of his list, which is exactly the kind of position the Vols want to be in as they continue building momentum on the recruiting trail. He is still sorting through other offers, though, so Tennessee has clearly made an impression without closing the deal just yet. [Read more 🡒]