Well, that didn't take long at all. Tennessee has picked up a commitment from 6-foot-10, 225-pound forward Christian Fermin, a former VCU big man. He only played four games last season, due to a leave of absence for a personal matter, but he had a solid junior seaosn there. Fermin will make his way to Knoxville with one more season of eligibility left, and will help the Vols compete for a national title next year.
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Fermin was on campus for a visit just yesterday and has already pulled the trigger on joining the Tennessee program.
NEWS: VCU transfer forward Christian Fermin has committed to Tennessee, he told @On3. ⁰⁰The 6-10 senior redshirted this past season, but averaged 4.6 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per game the year prior. https://t.co/pgKDwOeUjV pic.twitter.com/3BsIUDxl08
— Joe Tipton (@JoeTipton) May 14, 2026
VCU's Christian Fermin is now a Tennessee Vol
No matter how you look at it, this is a pretty solid addition for Tennessee. Fermin didn’t cost the Vols a massive amount of money, and he fills a role the roster still needed. He rebounds well, plays good defense, and averaged 4.6 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per game in 2025 while being efficient offensively. He’s not the flashy headline-grabbing addition fans dream about, but he’s exactly the kind of backup center Rick Barnes was looking for.
Honestly, I’d probably take Fermin over Favour Ibe for this Tennessee team right now. Barnes really wanted the 7-foot-1 freshman before he ended up choosing Virginia, but Fermin just feels like the better fit for a team trying to win immediately. He’s got March Madness experience and is way more physically ready to contribute right away. Long term, Ibe probably has the higher ceiling, but Tennessee isn’t building for three years down the road, as they’re trying to win big next season, and Fermin helps with that.
Where does Fermin fit in Rick Barnes' depth chart?
This is how I think Tennesee's depth chart will shake out as we inch toward next year:
Point guard: Terrence hill Jr. / Troy Henderson / Marquis Clark
Shooting guard: Dai Dai Ames / Tyler Lundblade / Manny Green
Small forward: Juke Harris / Christopher Washington Jr. / Ralph Scott
Power Forward: Jalen Haralson / Dewayne Brown II / Christian Fermin
Center: Miles Rubin / Braedan Lue / Christian Fermin
Fermin will probably slot in as the third option at both power forward and center, but that’s honestly a good spot for him. Tennessee is now three deep at both positions, especially with Christopher Washington Jr. being able to slide down and help in the frontcourt when needed. If injuries happen or the Vols get into foul trouble, Fermin is exactly the kind of player who can come off the bench and give Tennessee solid minutes.
With this addition, Tennessee’s roster finally feels complete, and it’s hard to imagine the Vols making any more moves. Looking at the roster as a whole, this team absolutely has a real shot to win a national championship. Obviously, they still have to prove everything fits together on the court, but purely on paper, this looks like one of the top five teams in the country. Next season is going to be very fun in Knoxville.
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