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USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Tennessee All-American Chaz Lanier: 'I'm a fierce competitor and I want to win'
Tennessee All-American Chaz Lanier: 'I'm a fierce competitor and I want to win' Fresh off a decorated fifth season at the collegiate level, Chaz Lanier is on the verge of hearing his name called in the 2025 NBA draft on June 25-26 in Brooklyn, New York. Lanier started at the University of North Florida after receiving only two scholarship offers out of The Ensworth School in Nashville, Tennessee. He played primarily in the second unit over his first three years for coach Matthew Driscoll before becoming a full-time starter as a senior. The 6-foot-5 guard responded by averaging a career-high 19.7 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists on 44% shooting from 3-point range. He was an All-ASUN first-team selection, ranking fifth in the country in 3-point percentage and 19th in total 3s (106). Lanier entered the transfer portal following the season with one year of eligibility remaining. He was considered one of the top available players and ultimately decided to return to his home state over programs like BYU and Kentucky, among others. The 23-year-old led the Volunteers to the Elite Eight, averaging 18 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.1 assists on 39.5% shooting from 3-point range in 38 appearances. He was a third-team All-American and an All-SEC second-team selection. Lanier ranked 15th in the country in points (684) and fourth in 3-pointers, setting the program record for a single season (123). He finished in double figures 36 times with the Volunteers, becoming the third player in the SEC over the last 20 years to accomplish that feat. Following the season, Lanier participated in the draft combine in Chicago, Illinois. He was tied for the seventh-highest max vertical jump (39 inches) and converted 77.6% combined in the spot-up, 3-point star and side shooting drills. The SEC Newcomer of the Year is considered a possible late first-round pick because of his ability as a high-level floor spacer and defender, boasting a 6-foot, 9-inch wingspan. He is expected to have worked out with at least 10 teams, including Boston, Brooklyn and Detroit. Rookie Wire caught up with Lanier on Wednesday to discuss his college career, winning the Jerry West Award with the Volunteers, preparing for the 2025 NBA draft and more. Note: This interview has been lightly edited and condensed for clarity. How has everything been going for you since your season ended? CL: The draft process has been going great. I've just been getting better every day. Going to work out with teams and competing has been a blast. Being able to meet people and talk to GMs and assistant GMs and make the connections has been really fun. It has just been a blessing, all in all. I'm really just trying to get better each and every day, sharpening up the things I do well: shooting, putting the ball in the basket, while also trying to get better on my defense, being a little bit more disruptive on the ball, making plays on the defensive end. I'm just really sharpening up my game all around. You had two Division I offers out of high school. What was the adjustment like going to North Florida, and how did the program prepare you for your collegiate career? CL: Coming out of high school, the pace was much faster. Coming to college, guys were much more physical and stronger. I had to really adjust to that play style of college basketball, but North Florida really prepared me for the University of Tennessee and what is to come, just being able to make plays on the offensive end, make the right reads for me and my teammates and play basketball the right way. What was your reaction to Coach Driscoll stepping down as head coach after 16 years? CL: He had a terrific career at the University of North Florida. He poured into so many people down in the City of Jacksonville and all throughout the basketball community. He is super well-loved and respected. He has had a great career, so I'm super proud of him and how much he poured into me and everybody he impacts daily. I'm just happy and excited to see his next steps. You transfer to Tennessee after four years at North Florida. As a Tennessee native, was it a no-brainer for you to commit to the program? CL: My decision to go to the University of Tennessee, a lot of things made sense: Coming back home and playing for my home state. My family would be able to make every game, which was big for me in my fifth year. My family was able to make a couple of games down at North Florida, but not every game. Being able to play for Hall of Fame coach Rick Barnes. A lot of kids don't get that opportunity, and I knew he would push me and challenge me, which I needed and desired to be challenged on the offensive end and defensive end. That was one of the big things for me throughout the portal. I really wanted to get better on defense, and I knew he would challenge me. Also, just stepping into a program that has a family culture where it is really and truly a brotherhood, and the guys love each other. The program is really much bigger than you. It is not about you. How gratifying was it to have the success you did at Tennessee? CL: I mean, it is truly a great feeling to be named an All-American, and to come home and play for your home state. It was almost like a dream. I'm just super blessed to have the opportunity to go to the University of Tennessee and play in front of the Volunteers. It was all a blessing. What did it mean to you to win the Jerry West Award? CL: It means a lot, for sure, to win the best shooting guard in the nation award. I mean, just thinking back a few years ago, I never would have thought I'd be even in the running for something so big and important. To be able to have that under my belt and to be in history now as a Jerry West Award winner means a lot, and to be the first winner after he passed away also means a lot to me. It is just a blessing. How quickly did it take for you to feel how passionate Volunteers fans are? CL: The University of Tennessee means a lot. To put on that Power T jersey means a lot, and I take a lot of pride in it. I know the people in the City of Knoxville and the state of Tennessee take a lot of pride in it. I felt it during our first exhibition game versus Indiana. That was my first game stepping onto the Food City Center court. I could just feel the love. When I checked into the game, it was loud. It was a great feeling. They showed me a lot of love and support throughout my whole year there, and I love them for life. I'm a Volunteer for life now, and I love it. How do you think playing for Tennessee in the SEC helped prepare you to make the jump to the NBA? CL: I feel like the SEC was definitely the toughest conference in the country, so being able to go up against high-level dudes, night in and night out, was big for me. I feel like I made a great case for myself and put on a good showing throughout the season. I feel like every night was an Elite Eight game, so when you're playing high-level games like that, it really prepares you for the next level. How would you describe your game to someone who hasn't seen you play? CL: I'd say I'm a high-level shooter and playmaker who is able to put the ball in the basket in numerous ways. I can finish above the rim. I specialize in shooting behind the arc, but I'm a player who brings it on both ends of the floor and is a great teammate. You established yourself as one of the top shooters in the country. How much work did it require to reach that level? CL: To be a high-level shooter, you have to have an immense amount of focus and consistency, which I take pride in. Going to the gym every day, making sure you're getting your shots up, making sure you're being prepared when you're catching the balls, shooting the ball and doing the same exact movements every shot. I've worked at this my whole life, and I take a lot of pride in shooting. In college, I definitely worked on extending my range. This past year, I worked with my assistant coach, Coach Rod (Clark). When I first got there, we were working on my range and shooting a little bit deeper and shooting in transition, which I feel like got much better this past season. I take a lot of pride in shooting, and I love it. Where do you think you rank among the top shooters in the draft? CL: This draft is surrounded by a great number of shooters, so it is a blessing to be even mentioned in these conversations. But I feel like I'm at the top with the best of the best with movement shooting and spot-up shooting, because this is what I do. What are you trying to show teams in your workouts, and what do you want teams to know about you? CL: I'm just looking to show people that I'm a dog, I'm a fierce competitor and I want to win. A lot of teams already know a lot about you, so just going out there and showing them how good of a person I am and how I can contribute to an organization and really impact now. I'm just a super selfless guy who wants to be a part of winning. I'm a fierce competitor who will pour into the organization and into his teammates. But I'm a guy who really wants to win.
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Nets to work out Tennessee's Chaz Lanier ahead of 2025 NBA Draft
The Brooklyn Nets still have a couple of months before they have to figure out what they are going to with their picks in the upcoming 2025 NBA Draft in June. As of this writing, Brooklyn has five draft picks, meaning that they will have plenty of players to sift through and one way to do that is to bring prospective players in for workouts ahead of the Draft. The Nets will be bringing in Tennessee guard Chaz Lanier for a predraft workout on Thursday, according to ClutchPoints' Erik Slater on Wednesday. Lanier is regarded as one of the best shooters in the class as he shot 39.5% from three-point land this past season for Tennessee and had that kind of accuracy from deep on 8.2 attempts per game. Advertisement Lanier, listed at 6-foot-4 and 206 pounds, seems to be regarded as a player that will definitely be taken in the second of the Draft if Jonathan Wasserman's latest mock draft for Bleacher Report is any indication. Wasserman predicted that Lanier would be taken by the Detroit Pistons with the 37th overall pick, implying that Lanier should be safely-regarded as a player to not last deep into the second round. "Chaz Lanier finished second at the NBA combine in aggregate shooting, 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," Wasserman wrote. Lanier, who Wasserman compares to Seth Curry and Alex Burks, would be a player for the Nets to target after they finished last season shooting just 34.4% from deep, good for 25th in the league. Lanier had quite the senior season for the Volunteers as he was named a Wooden All-American as well as being named All-SEC. Lanier came away from the 2024-25 season after averaging 18.0 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game while shooting 43.1% from the field and the aforementioned 39.5% behind the three-point arc. Brooklyn has the 36th overall pick to use in the second round if Lanier impresses in his workout. This article originally appeared on Nets Wire: Nets to work out Tennessee's Chaz Lanier ahead of 2025 NBA Draft
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Nets hosting sleeper prospect for pre-draft workout after stellar combine performance
The post Nets hosting sleeper prospect for pre-draft workout after stellar combine performance appeared first on ClutchPoints. The Brooklyn Nets are getting an up-close look at one of the top shooters in the draft. Tennessee guard Chaz Lanier will visit the team for a predraft workout on Thursday, sources told ClutchPoints. Advertisement Following an outstanding season with the Volunteers, Lanier is ranked 42nd on ESPN's Top 100 big board. The 23-year-old could be a target for the Nets with the 36th pick. Brooklyn also owns the eighth, 19th, 26th and 27th selections. Chaz Lanier visiting Nets for predraft workout following breakout season at Tennessee David Banks-Imagn Images Lanier, a 6-foot-4 shooting guard out of Nashville, Tennessee, spent his first four college seasons at the University of North Florida. During his senior season, he led the nation in three-point percentage (44.0) among 74 players to attempt over seven per game. Following the breakout campaign, he transferred to Tennessee for his fifth year, where he won the Jerry West Award as the nation's top shooting guard. Advertisement Lanier averaged 18.0 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.1 assists while shooting 39.5 percent from three on 8.2 attempts per game with the Volunteers. While he has limitations as a playmaker and defender, his off-ball movement and dead-eye shooting have caught the eyes of NBA scouts. Lanier has been rising in mock drafts following an impressive showing at the combine. The sharpshooter ranked third in standing vertical leap, fifth in lane agility and 12th in three-quarter court sprint among 68 players who tested in Chicago. He finished second in aggregate shooting, behind only Alabama's Marc Sears. Lanier is tabbed to go 31st to the Minnesota Timberwolves in ClutchPoints' Mock Draft 3.0. ESPN projects him to go 40th to the Washington Wizards, while Bleacher Report has him going 35th to the Philadelphia 76ers. The Nets need an influx of talent in their backcourt. Cam Thomas, Keon Johnson and Reece Beekman are Brooklyn's only guards under team control entering the offseason.
Yahoo
01-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Detroit Pistons to host NBA predraft workout with Tennessee sharpshooter Chaz Lanier
The Detroit Pistons' priorities are coming into focus as we inch closer to the 2025 NBA Draft. Tennessee sharpshooter Chaz Lanier has a predraft workout scheduled with the Pistons on Monday, June 2, a source told the Free Press. Lanier led the Volunteers in scoring last season and won the Jerry West Award, which goes to the top shooting guard in the country. Advertisement The 6-foot-5 wing averaged 18 points and 3.9 rebounds per game and knocked down 39.5% of his 3-pointers, on 8.2 attempts as a fifth-year senior. He played his previous four seasons at North Florida, where he averaged 19.7 points and 4.8 rebounds per game on 44% shooting from 3 in 2023-24, his final season there. TRENDING: 10 unrestricted free agents Detroit Pistons could pursue in 2025 Tennessee Volunteers guard Chaz Lanier shoots the ball against the Houston Cougars in the first half during the Midwest Regional final of the NCAA tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium, March 30, 2025 in Indianapolis. Lanier is currently slated to be a second-round pick — ESPN projects him at 42nd overall to the Sacramento Kings, Yahoo has him 41st to the Golden State Warriors and The Athletic predicts he'll go 49th to the New York Knicks. The Pistons do not have a first-round pick but have the 37th overall pick in the draft, scheduled for June 25 (first round) and June 26 (second round). Pistons president of basketball operations Trajan Langdon has preached the importance of having adequate shooting on the floor, and Lanier would give them additional insurance on the perimeter with both Malik Beasley and Tim Hardaway Jr. entering unrestricted free agency. Advertisement [ MUST WATCH: Make "The Pistons Pulse" your go-to Detroit Pistons podcast, listen available anywhere you listen to podcasts (Apple, Spotify) ] Follow the Pistons all year long with the best coverage at Submit a letter to the editor at and we may publish it online or in print. Follow the Detroit Free Press on Instagram (@detroitfreepress), TikTok (@detroitfreepress), YouTube (@DetroitFreePress), X (@freep), and LinkedIn, and like us on Facebook (@detroitfreepress). This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Pistons to host Tennessee's Chaz Lanier for NBA draft workout
New York Post
30-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Post
Tennessee sharpshooter Chaz Lanier makes his Nets NBA draft pitch
Shooting is the single most coveted skill in the NBA, and the Nets on Thursday worked out the top shooter in the upcoming draft. At least, that's how the confident Chaz Lanier views himself. Advertisement 'I believe I'm the best shooter in the draft,' Lanier told The Post. 'But [also] a competitor, a winner, somebody who wants to win and is going to bring the best effort to the team. 'I feel like I have a proven track record, and I bring maturity and experience onto any team who drafts me. I've shown that I can adapt and continue to develop. And I feel like I'm a more mature and experienced guy who can contribute the right way, and immediately.' Lanier being the draft's top marksman might not be hyperbole. The 6-foot-4 Tennessee off-guard averaged 18 points on 39.5 percent shooting from 3-point territory this season. Advertisement His middling defense and age (23) have him 34th on Tankathon's Big Board and 42nd on ESPN's, putting him in range of the Nets with the No. 36 pick. The Nets also have picks No. 26 and 27, and there are indications some teams view him as a potential first-round target. But Lanier spun that age as experience, as a strong suit. Advertisement 3 Tennessee guard Chaz Lanier, working out at the NFL Combine earlier in the month, worked out with the Nets on May 29, 2025. NBAE via Getty Images 'Some people look at age as a bad thing, and some look at it as a good thing, so I try and put it out there as a good thing,' Lanier said. 'I'm a more mature and experienced player who can bring shooting immediately. A lot of guys are going back to school nowadays with NIL, so the draft is leaning more towards a little bit older guys now … so there's a lot of positives to it.' Lanier worked out with five other prospects Thursday at HSS Training Center, including Volunteers teammate Jahmai Mashack and Colorado State guard Nique Clifford, tabbed to go in the middle of the first round. 3 Chaz Lanier drives to the basket during the NBA Draft Combine on May 13, 2025. NBAE via Getty Images Advertisement Lanier met several Nets players and personnel. 'I pretty much got to meet everybody, from the head coach Jordi Fernández to the assistant GM, the GM,' Lanier said. 'The whole front office was there and the coaching staff, so it was great. It was a great opportunity.' In Lanier's last season at North Florida before transferring, he led the country in offensive efficiency, and his 44 percent from deep also led the nation (among players averaging seven-plus attempts). 3 Volunteers guard Chaz Lanier goes up for a layup during Tennessee's Elite Eight loss to Houston. AP He won the Jerry West Award this season at Tennessee as the nation's top shooting guard, was fourth in the country in 3s (123) and in the 99th percentile in win shares (5.2). A strong draft combine showing also raised Lanier's stock. He led all prospects in spot-up shooting and free-throw shooting. He finished third in standing vertical leap, fifth in lane agility and second in aggregate shooting, trailing only Alabama's Mark Sears. Follow all the basketball buzz in Brooklyn Sign up for Inside the Nets by Brian Lewis, exclusively on Sports+. Thank you Enter your email address Please provide a valid email address. By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Enjoy this Post Sports+ exclusive newsletter! Check out more newsletters Advertisement His skill set could come in handy for a Nets team that wants to take 3s (top 10 in attempts last season) but can't hit them (bottom 10 in percentage). Considering they're in a rebuild, there is a runway toward playing time. 'Definitely a golden opportunity. I feel like everything needs shooting, especially in today's league and the way most teams play,' Lanier said. 'And in Brooklyn, they play an unselfish brand of basketball. You're out there on the court having a great time with your teammates and playing defense, most importantly. 'I really admire the way coach Jordi Fernández really runs the organization. The culture is amazing. Being able to meet with everybody and all the staff, getting to meet some of the players you can tell everybody's bought into the culture. It's not about 'me,' it's about 'we.' And I really admire that about what coach is building.'
