North Florida transfer guard Chaz Lanier commits to Tennessee Basketball
North Florida transfer guard Chaz Lanier announced his committed to Tennessee Basketball on Friday, picking the Vols over Kentucky and BYU. The high-scoring guard is the fourth player from the NCAA Transfer Portal to pick Tennessee, joining Hofstra wing Darlinstone Dubar, Ohio State center Felix Okpara and Charlotte forward Igor Milicic Jr.
Lanier, a Nashville native who attended Ensworth School before going to North Florida, averaged 19.7 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 33.4 minutes per game last season, shooting 51.0% from the field and 44.0% from the 3-point line.
Home is where the heart is!! 🧡🙏🏽
— CHAZ LANIER (@Swaggychaz) May 24, 2024
He announced his intentions to go through the NBA Draft process on March 16 and entered the NCAA Transfer Portal on April 24. He has until May 29 to remove his name from the NBA Draft to retain collegiate eligibility.
Lanier competed in the NBA’s G League Elite camp last week in Chicago and also held a pro day before the three recruiting visits.
Chaz Lanier last season: College basketball’s most efficient scorer
According to Synergy Basketball, his 19.7 points came on just 16.3 possessions per game, putting him at 1.20 points per possession and ranked No. 1 in scoring efficiency last season.
Lanier at the G League Elite Camp measured in at 6-foot-3.75 without shoes. He had a 6-foot-9 wingspan and weighed in at 196.0 pounds. He had a max vertical of 36.0 inches and a standing vertical of 30.0 inches.
In two games there he scored 10 points in 33 minutes, going 3-for-7 from the field, including 1-for-4 from the 3-point line, and aded five rebounds, an assist and a turnover.
Tennessee has added three players from NCAA Transfer Portal so far
Rick Barnes and his staff is in the midst of changing seven total roster spots from the 2023-24 to 2024-25 seasons. The three transfers added to this point helped offset the losses of forwards Jonas Aidoo and Tobe Awaka, as well as redshirt freshmen guards Freddie Dilione V and DJ Jefferson, who all entered the transfer portal in April.
Aidoo transferred to Arkansas and Aidoo went to Arizona. Dilione signed with Penn State and Jefferson is headed to Longwood.
Tennessee still had three open roster spots to fill before Lanier’s commitment.
