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Chaz Lanier's latest ESPN NBA mock draft projection, final Big Board ranking

IMG_3593by: Grant Ramey06/23/25GrantRamey
Chaz Lanier, Tennessee Basketball | Angelina Alcantar/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
(Angelina Alcantar/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images) Tennessee guard Chaz Lanier (2) dribbles the ball during a college basketball game between Tennessee and Arkansas held at Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center in Knoxville, Tenn., on Saturday, January 4, 2025.

Two days out from the NBA Draft, the projections remain for Chaz Lanier to picked the second round. ESPN’s updated mock draft on Monday has Tennessee’s star shooting guard at No. 38 overall to the San Antonio Spurs, going with the eighth pick in the second round. 

Lanier was also ranked No. 38 overall in ESPN’s final NBA Draft big board ranking the top 100 prospects in the draft. 

The first round of the NBA Draft will be held Wednesday at 8 p.m. Eastern Time on ABC and ESPN, while the second round will be held Thursday at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN.

Chaz Lanier last season: 18.0 points per game, 43.1% FG, 39.5% 3FG

ESPN’s previous NBA mock draft had Lanier at No. 40 overall to the Washington Wizards. Bleacher Report also has Lanier at No. 38 and Yahoo has him at No. 41 to the Golden State Warriors. 

The Nashville native spent one season at Tennessee after transferring from North Florida. He averaged 18.0 points per game with the Vols last season while shooting 43.1% from the field and 39.5% from the 3-point line. He made 123 3-pointers in 38 games, breaking the previous record of 118 held by Chris Lofton.

Lanier won the Jerry West Award in April, given annually to college basketball’s best shooting guard, and was also named third-team All-American by the National Association of Basketball Coaches and The Sporting News. 

He was also named an All-American by the Wooden Award, was First Team All-SEC and won the SEC’s Newcomer of the Year award.

‘Without great size or playmaking at his age, he’s a second-round prospect’

Lanier had a breakout senior year at North Florida in 2023-24, averaging 19.7 points per game and making 108 threes in 32 games, shooting a career-high 44.0% from the 3-point line.

“Chaz Lanier finished second at the NBA combine in aggregate shooting,” Jonathan Wasserman wrote for Bleacher Report, “unsurprising based on his 229 made threes over the past two seasons. NBA teams that could use more offensive firepower will look past age and lack of versatility for such advanced shotmaking.”

“The Warriors need more shooting,” Kevin O’Conner wrote for Yahoo of Lanier’s potential fit with Golden State, “which explains everything about this pick. Lanier transferred to Tennessee after four years at North Florida and immediately thrived as a knockdown shooter with shot-making creativity. But without great size or playmaking at his age, he’s a second-round prospect.”

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