Tennessee sophomore forward Christian Fermin will sit out the remainder of summer workouts after fracturing his left hand during a practice drill on July 13. The injury required surgery on July 16, and medical staff project a four‑to‑six‑week recovery window, a timeline that keeps the player on schedule for the start of the 2026‑27 campaign.
A Setback That Won’t Derail the Upcoming Season
Fermin arrived in Knoxville after a one‑year stint at Virginia Commonwealth University, where he started all 38 games and shot 54.4% while averaging 4.6 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per contest.
He joins a frontcourt that also features transfers Miles Rubin from Loyola Chicago and Braedan Lue from Kennesaw State, forming a three‑player rotation that coach Rick Barnes describes as one of the strongest in the country.
The coaching staff also expects sophomore DeWayne Brown II, one of only two returning players from last season’s Elite Eight run, to provide additional depth as the Vols prepare for the new season.