Former Jamaican all-star signs with Miami Heat
The Miami Heat has announced that they have signed former Jamaican Calabar High School center, Vashil Fernandez, to a contract for the upcoming 2016-2017 season.
The Heat announced the signing of Fernandez on Monday but did not disclose the terms made with the 24-year-old. Fernandez, is the all-time leading shot block at Valparaiso University. The 6-foot-10 athlete could possibly start the season with the Heat or end up with their Development League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce. He has played all four seasons with the Crusaders appearing in 131 games. He averaged 4.7 points, 5.1 rebounds and two blocks while shooting 54 percent from the field. As a senior, he led the NCAA in blocks per game and was named the Horizon League Defensive Player of the Year for the second consecutive season.
Fernandez, who finished his career with 289 blocks, plans to wear the number 14 jersey for the Heat. He emerged as a game-changing defensive player especially his final two seasons, including the one he initially had lost after successfully appealing to the NCAA. Fernandez graduated from Valparaiso with a bachelor’s and two master’s degrees.
