Vanderbilt center Djery Baptiste leaving the program

(Photo by Bryan Lynn/Icon Sportswire)

Vanderbilt has announced that center Djery Baptiste is leaving the program.

Baptiste is set to graduate from the school in December and will pursue other basketball opportunities.

The 6-10 junior averaged 3.1 points and 3.6 rebounds in 15.2 minutes per game during the 2017-18 season.

Baptiste was recruited by former Vanderbilt head coach Kevin Stallings and appeared in every game during the ’16-17 campaign after redshirting as a true freshman.

Bryce Drew should still have several impactful options in the frontcourt due to the arrival of 5-star freshman Simi Shittu and 6-10 transfer Yanni Wetzell, who sat out last season and will have two years of eligibility remaining.

Vanderbilt also returns versatile forward Clevon Brown and sophomore center Ejike Obinna, who both saw considerable minutes last season.

Drew’s 2018 recruiting class, which includes 5-star point guard Darius Garland and 4-star forward Aaron Nesmith, currently rankings in the top-15 nationally.

The Commodores finished 12-20 overall this past season.