NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Vanderbilt men’s basketball announced the addition of North Carolina transfer Jalen Washington on Friday.
Washington stands at 6-foot-10 with a 7-foot-4 wingspan. He is a rising senior and played the previous three seasons in Chapel Hill where he averaged 5.7 points and 4.2 rebounds in 16 minutes per game in 2024-25.
“I am so excited to coach Jalen,” head coach Mark Byington said. “He’s got great size and is extremely versatile. He can score around the rim, shoot threes and can make plays for others. I believe he fits really well in our system and expect a huge year from him.”
The athletic big shot 59.4 percent from the floor on the season and was second on the Tar Heels with 30 blocks. Washington scored in double figures five times as a junior, including a pair of contests with a career-high 18 points against Boston College and American. He also produced a double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds at NC State in January. The forward set a career high with five blocks against Notre Dame on Jan. 4.
Washington played in 93 games for the Tar Heels while making 16 starts, all coming in the 2024-25 season. He is a career 60.8 percent shooter from the floor and 32.5 percent from three.
Washington reunites in Nashville with Tyler Nickel, whom he was teammates with at North Carolina in 2022-23.
Washington hails from Gary, Indiana, where he played for Gary West Side Leadership Academy under coaches Chris Buggs and Sean Smith. He led Gary West Side to the state semifinals as a junior, averaging 12.5 points, seven rebounds, three assists and three blocks as a junior. He also trained with the USA Junior National Team in 2022.
