Heat cut Stefan Jankovic, sign Vashil Fernandez

With roster cuts looming for the Miami Heat, the team has announced they have waived Stefan Jankovic and signed center Vashil Fernandez.

The former Valparaiso University center will wear number 14 for the Heat.

Jankovic totaled 3:40 of preseason action with Miami but appears to be destined for a spot on the Sioux Falls Skyforce, their NBA Development-affiliate team.

Miami will still need to trim their roster down to 15 by the time the 2016-17 NBA regular season begins. As Winderman also points out, it appears likely that both Fernandez and fellow Heat training camp teammate Keith Benson will help round out the center position in Sioux Falls.

The Heat’s press release has more info on Fernandez:

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.

Be sure to read Hot Hot Hoops’ look at the further roster cuts that will come soon.