North Carolina Tar Heels forward Jalen Washington (13) and Mississippi Rebels guard Matthew Murrell (11) chase a loose ball during the first half of a first round NCAA men’s tournament game at Fiserv Forum. Benny Sieu-Imagn Images

Vanderbilt Adds Two Players from Transfer Portal

Originally posted on Vanderbilt Commodores on SI
By Taylor Hodges | Last updated Apr 5, 2025 8:47 AM ET

Vanderbilt coach Mark Byington has a lot of work to do to fill out the men’s basketball team roster that was left with just six players after players ran out of eligibility or entered the transfer portal.

Byington received his first commitments in this transfer portal cycle Friday night when former North Carolina forward Jalen Washington picked Vanderbilt over schools like Mississippi State, Missouri and Ohio State, according to On3 . The Commodores also received a commitment from Jacksonville State center Mason Nicholson.

NEWS: North Carolina transfer big man Jalen Washington has committed to Vanderbilt, his agency @WEAVE tells @On3sports.

The 6-10 junior averaged 5.7 points and 4.2 rebounds per game this season. https://t.co/63bGTQvQ6Q pic.twitter.com/me977bE0hu
— Joe Tipton (@TiptonEdits) April 4, 2025

Washington spent the last three seasons with the Tar Heels, playing in 93 games with 16 starts (all during this past season) and averaged 5.7 points, 4.2 rebounds and 0.8 blocks per game as a junior.

Nicholson, who is listed at 6-foot-10, 280-pounds, can provide the Commodores a dominant presence in the paint. As a junior, he averaged 7.5 points, 7.4 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game for the Gamecocks, but also made just 51.5 percent of his free throws. Vanderbilt had just two players average five rebounds a game or more. Jaylen Carey was one of those two, but entered the transfer portal two weeks ago, and Devin McGlockton led the team with 7.9 rpg.

NEWS: Jacksonville State transfer center Mason Nicholson has committed to Vanderbilt, his agency @WEAVE tells @On3sports.

The 6-10 junior averaged 7.5 points and 7.4 rebounds per game, shooting 64% from the field. https://t.co/CSq1LZtNa3 pic.twitter.com/Hzbd0M5HL3
— Joe Tipton (@TiptonEdits) April 4, 2025