MIAMI, October 17 – The Miami HEAT announced today that they have signed center Vashil Fernandez. As per club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Fernandez, the all-time leading shot blocker at Valparaiso University, played all four seasons with the Crusaders appearing in 131 games (85 starts) and averaged 4.7 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.21 blocks and 19.8 minutes while shooting 54.8 percent from the field. As a senior, he led the NCAA in blocks per game (3.31) and was named the Horizon League Defensive Player of the Year for the second consecutive season. He finished his career with 289 blocks, surpassing the previous school record of 228 held by Raitis Grafs from 1999-2003, including 119 during his senior campaign, setting the school’s single-season block record, a record he held the previous season with 98 rejections.
Fernandez will wear number 14.
Janković appeared in one preseason game with the HEAT, totaling 3:40 minutes of action.