Rick Barnes and the Tennessee basketball team are targeting efficiency in this year's transfer portal class, and appear to be targeting one of the most talented scorers in the country to round out the 2024 transfer portal class. is.
According to 247Sports, Chazz Lanier is the No. 1 ranked combo guard and No. 8 overall prospect in this year's portal class. On3 Sports ranks Lanier as the No. 2 shooting guard and No. 7 overall player.
Lanier had a breakout season as a junior last year. He averaged 19.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.8 assists while shooting 51 percent from the field and 44 percent from 3-point range. ESPN NBA Draft Analyst Jonathan Givony credits Lanier shot 67% from the field and was one of the most talented players in the country last season.
Several heavyweights are vying for Lanier's commitment. Tennessee, Kentucky, Florida State, and Maryland are also players who are praising his contributions. Lanier is also undergoing the NBA Draft process, so he may choose not to return to college at all and instead choose to play professional basketball.
While Lanier could stay in Florida and commit to FSU or join SEC blue blood Kentucky, On3 Sports' Jamie Shaw projects Lanier to commit to Tennessee.
Tennessee is currently the only team on Lanier's page under On3's Recruiting Prediction Machine (RPM), allowing On3 staff to give crystal ball predictions to recruits. While these predictions are often correct, there is no 100% guarantee that Shaw or On3 will know that his Lanier will commit to his Vol.
Lanier has yet to announce a decision on where he will spend his senior season or whether he will go to the NBA, but he posted two eyeball emojis on Twitter/X on Wednesday, the first day the transfer portal closed.
This could mean Lanier is getting closer to making a decision. This will be a huge burden for the Vols, who lost four guards to graduation and portals. Tennessee has three transfer players signed, two forwards and one center, so Lanier will complete the Vols' transfer class and roster next season.
There are still a few weeks left before Lanier makes a decision between college and the NBA, but a decision could come sooner rather than later. The Vols have a crystal ball for Lanier, but it could still be a battle between Tennessee and Kentucky.