When it was first announced that former UNC big man Jalen Washington was going to be getting an extra year of eligibility, we won’t lie, we got our hopes up. North Carolina needs another big on the roster, and the experience alone Washington provides would have been a major late win for Michael Malone and his staff.
However, any hope of a potential reunion here looks like it’s been taken off the table. That’s because shortly after it was revealed that Washington has one more college season left in him, buzz immediately arrived that Tennessee and Rick Barnes are the favorites to reel in the talented big.
Vanderbilt forward Jalen Washington got an injunction against the NCAA and is in the NCAA Transfer Portal. Rick Barnes said in June that Tennessee would be looking to add another forward to the roster.Seems like a good fit.🔗https://t.co/i8dF5Zz8rQpic.twitter.com/4FaV1ugDR6
— @GrantRamey (@GrantRamey) July 31, 2026
Jalen Washington trending to Tennessee is not what UNC fans wanted to see
It looks like the Washington dream lasted all of 25 seconds, as Rick Barnes and Co. indeed appear to be the top contenders to sign him in a late win for the Vols. While that’ll be great news for the SEC side, it’s nothing for the Tar Heels faithful to lose sleep over…