Former Tennessee sharpshooter Chaz Lanier could be on the verge of becoming a first-round pick in this summer’s 2025 NBA Draft, according to a new mock draft on Tuesday.
Lanier participated in the NBA Combine in May and dazzled scouts with one of the best shooting performances among all participants. Coming out of the combine, Lanier was widely projected in the 38-41 range, which is good for early in the middle of the second round.
On Tuesday, Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Wasserman had Lanier jumping up to No. 35 in the draft, which is good for the fifth pick of the second round. He’s tagged to go to the Philadelphia 76ers with the pick.
Wasserman previously had Lanier listed at No. 41 and No. 38 in other mock drafts earlier in the spring. The former Volunteer and Nashville native just continues to rise with the draft looming in late June.
“Chaz Lanier finished second at the NBA combine in aggregate shooting, unsurprising based on his 229 made threes over the past two seasons,” Wasserman wrote. “NBA teams that could use more offensive firepower will look past age and lack of versatility for such advanced shotmaking.”
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The 6-foot-4, 206-pound prospect was compared to Seth Curry and Alec Burks to give readers unfamiliar with Lanier an idea of what his game brings to the table.
In one season at Tennessee, Lanier instantly became an impact player during the Vols’ run to the Elite Eight. Lanier cemented his mark on Rocky Top by becoming Tennessee’s all-time single-season leader in made three-pointers, setting the record of 123 in a Round of 32 win over UCLA in the 2025 March Madness tournament in Lexington. He finished the year shooting 43.1% from the floor and 39.5% from three-point range, averaging 18.0 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.1 assists in 38 games with the Volunteers.
“When he came in, he’s a pretty cool, calm guy,” Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes said of Lanier after his record-setting moment against the Bruins. “I think he meant what he said about he gives all the glory to God. He’s grounded in a way that it’s not about him. He knows he’s part of a good team and he’s willing to do whatever he needs to do to help this team, but he’s just not selfish and in his own way he sets a great example.”
Lanier is looking to become the ninth player drafted from Tennessee in the Rick Barnes era when the 2025 NBA Draft rolls around on June 25 from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. Stay tuned to Rocky Top Insider for complete coverage of the draft and Lanier’s path to the NBA.
Tennessee Basketball Draft Picks Under Rick Barnes
- 2019 – Grant Williams – Boston Celtics // No. 22
- 2019 – Admiral Schofield – Washington Wizards via Philadelphia // No. 42
- 2019 – Jordan Bone – Detroit Pistons via New Orleans // No. 58
- 2021 – Keon Johnson – Los Angeles Clippers via New York // No. 21
- 2021 – Jaden Springer – Philadelphia 76ers // No. 28
- 2022 – Kennedy Chandler – Memphis Grizzlies via San Antonio // No. 38
- 2023 – Julian Phillips – Chicago Bulls via Boston // No. 35
- 2024 – Dalton Knecht – Los Angeles Lakers // No. 17
