North Florida transfer Chaz Lanier committed to Tennessee basketball on Friday. Here's what his commitment means for the Vols.
Ben McKee
North Florida transfer guard Chaz Lanier committed to Tennessee basketball over Kentucky and BYU on Friday following official visits to all three finalists. He visited BYU last Sunday before visiting Kentucky on Monday and Tennessee on Tuesday.
Lanier is ranked by 247Sports as the No. 11 overall transfer in this year's cycle and as the No. 3 overall shooting guard. The Nashville native is the fourth addition for the Vols from the transfer portal this offseason, as he joins Hofstra wing Darlinstone Dubar, Ohio State center Felix Okpara and Charlotte forward Igor Milicic Jr.
The 6-foot-4 guardbroke out this past season, earning First Team All-ASUN honors after leading the conference in points per game during conference play at 24.5 points. He scored 629 points during the season to become only the second North Florida player in program history to score more than 600 points.
Lanier ranked fifth in the country in three-pointers (106) and ninth in three-point percentage at 44%, while also ranking top 20 in made field goals (214) and points. He led the ASUN in made three's (56), free-throw percentage (90.5%) and minutes played (36.9 mpg), during conference games.
Here's a look at what the Volunteers are getting inLanier and what it means for them as they continue to rebuild their roster for next season.
What Tennessee is getting inLanier
Tennessee has added one of the most efficient scorers in college basketball. In fact, according to Synergy Basketball, Lanier was the most efficient offensive player in the country this past season at North Florida as he averaged 1.20 points per possession.
Lanier isconsidered by some to be the best shooterthat enteredthe transfer portal this offseason.His shootingreleaseis a little quirky, but the results speak for themselves. He took 241 three'sas a senior and made 106 of them to shoot 44%. He also shot 88% at the free throw line and was just two percentage pointsshyof a 50-40-90 shooting percentage season.
Shooting is what Lanier does best, but it's not the only thing he does. He's also capable of putting the basketball on the floor, getting to therim and finishing inside the paint once he gets there.
Lanier will need to continue to work this summer on his ability to score when the basketball is in his hands, but he's expected tothrive in Tennessee's off-ball movements and sets that will generate scoring opportunities.
How Lanier fits in with the Vols
You can go ahead and pencil Lanier into the Vols' starting lineup. With Zakai Zeigler starting at point guard and Jahmai Mashack likely starting on the wing, Lanier appears poised to slot in at shooting guard next to Zeigler and Mashack.
Themore intriguingquestions surround rising-sophom*ore Cameron Carr and rising-senior Jordan Gainey, who both play the same position as Lanier. There's no need to fear either player leaving with Lanier's arrival, but both need to have a strong offseason to solidify their spot in the rotation.
For Gainey, he flashed at times during his first season at Tennessee after transferring from USC Upstate. He improved defensively throughout the season, he knocked down shots from the perimeter, provided great energy off the bench and he's a great locker room guy. The Vols could use more consistency from him, however. He shot just 29.1% from three after shooting over 40% in his first two seasons.
As for Carr,many believe he has the potential to be a first-round pick in the NBA Draft one day. He'll still be in contention to earn a starting spot, but even if he's not able todo so with several veteran players ahead of him, it's not crazy to think he could be the SEC Sixth Man of the Year.First, he needs to have a strong summer.
What's next for the Vols
Tennessee isexpected to be done in the transfer portal with the addition of Lanier. When you addhim to what UT has alreadygained in Dubar, Milicic Jr. and Okpara, it's hard not to viewwhat Rick Barnes and his coaching staffaccomplished this offseason as one of the best portal classes in the country.
The Vols still havetwo remaining scholarships open after adding four transfers and one high school player in four-star guard Bishop Boswell. They're not expected to be in a rush to filleitherspot and will likely leaveboth open in case something unexpected pops up over the summer, like they've done in the past with Zeigler and Tobe Awaka.
Tennessee would most likely look to add a young point guard in the 2024 class if it is going to fill its final roster spots.
