Tennessee forward Jaylen Carey commits to Missouri

Mar 29, 2026; Chicago, IL, USA; Tennessee Volunteers forward Jaylen Carey (23) shoots in the first half against the Michigan Wolverines during an Elite Eight game of the Midwest Regional of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images | Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

The Tennessee Vols have seen players come and go this week in the transfer portal, and another outgoing player found his new basketball home on Monday night.

Per On3 Sports’ Joe Tipton, forward Jaylen Carey is heading to play for the Missouri Tigers next season.

Carey was an up and down player for Tennessee last season after coming down I-40 from Vanderbilt the season before. He totaled 7.4 points per game and 6.0 rebounds per game last season for Tennessee.

Perhaps it’s not too surprising to see Carey leaving despite teaming up with DeWayne Brown II to give the Vols a tough, physical presence among their forwards last year (known by Auburn head coach Steven Pearl as a pair of “defensive ends). After all, Rick Barnes said this year that Carey was the player he was the toughest on all year.

However, Missouri is certainly an…interesting spot. NIL drives the transfer portal, to be sure. Not going to deny that. And the Tigers did make the tournament this year, as well as beat the Vols during the regular season.

However, as far as programs, while players like JP Estrella moved on to a place like Michigan, going from Tennessee to Missouri doesn’t feel like a step in the right direction. Again, NIL, and Carey is now jumping to his fourth program.

But you wonder how things would have gone if he and Brown could have helped Tennessee maintain that physical presence on the glass and in the paint for one more year.