According to a reliable source, VCU transfer center Christian Fermin visited Tennessee basketball on Wednesday. The Vols regard Fermin as a possible missing element on a squad that is already projected to be in the nation’s top ten next season.
Fermin played in only four games last season before taking a sabbatical to address a personal situation, according to the Richmond Times-Dispatch in November.
The 6-foot-10, 225-pound center played the first four years of his college career at VCU before joining the transfer portal. Fermin produced in both his sophomore and junior seasons before taking a sabbatical for the majority of his senior year.
As a junior, Fermin averaged 4. 6 points, 3. 1 rebounds, and 1. 4 blocks in 19. 4 minutes per game. The Pennsylvania native’s greatest statistical season occurred as a sophomore, when he averaged 5. 2 points, four rebounds, and 1. 4 blocks in 21. 4 minutes per game. Fermin played all 38 games for the Rams that season.
Tennessee basketball is trying to sign a big guy with their final roster slot for next season. The Vols return DeWayne Brown and have recruited Loyola (Chicago) center Miles Rubin, as well as Kennesaw State power forward Braedan Lue.
Fermin would provide Tennessee with another strong guy to add depth behind the combination of Rubin and Brown. The transfer target also played with Tennessee transfer commitment Terrence Hill Jr. at VCU for the past two seasons.
Tennessee lost six players to the transfer portal this offseason, including J. P. Estrella (Michigan), Jaylen Carey (Missouri), Cade Phillips (Texas A&M), Bishop Boswell (Maryland), Amari Evans (Texas), and Clarence Massamba (UC Davis).
Rick Barnes and his staff rebuilt Tennessee’s roster with one of the best transfer hauls in the country, bringing in Cal combo guard Dai Dai Ames, VCU combo guard Terrence Hill Jr. , Wake Forest shooting guard Juke Harris, Belmont shooting guard Tyler Lundblade, Kennesaw State forward Braedan Lue, and Loyola (Chicago) center Miles Rubin.
That outstanding transfer class, along with returnees DeWayne Brown and Troy Henderson, as well as Tennessee’s four-play prep recruiting class, makes the Vols a genuine contender next season.
