Nashville native and former Tennessee guard Chaz Lanier is looking to become the ninth player from the Rick Barnes era in Knoxville to be taken in the NBA Draft when it unfolds this week in Brooklyn, NY.
The sharpshooting guard left a strong legacy in his lone season on Rocky Top, helping the Vols reach the Elite Eight in Indianapolis as he became the Vols’ all-time record holder for made three-pointers (123) in a single season.
Lanier is now being eyed as a potential high second-round draft pick around the association.
We’ve been tracking Lanier’s mock draft landing spot throughout the offseason, and there has been a steady rise in the last few months. Even if it’s not been a skyrocket jump or anything, he has been climbing the ranks in mock drafts after a stellar showing at the NBA Combine in May.
In ESPN’s mid-June mock draft, Lanier was tagged at No. 38 to the San Antonio Spurs, which would be the upper middle of the second round. For the first time in the draft timeline, Lanier’s projection has stayed the same between mock drafts from the same analysts. This could indicate that Lanier is settling into a small range before the 40th pick.
ESPN’s Jeremy Woo and Jonathan Givony released a new post-NBA Finals mock draft on Monday morning with Lanier again landing at No. 38 to the Spurs. As always, there are a number of variables that could unfold before the draft begins on Wednesday, but it is notable that projections are staying put on Lanier’s spot.
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Prior to the NBA Combine, the ESPN experts tagged Lanier at No. 42 and had him at No. 40 in their post-combine mock.
Lanier could get taken earlier than No. 38 or could fall further, but it seems definitive that he becomes Barnes’ ninth Tennessee draft pick this week in Brooklyn. Stay tuned to Rocky Top Insider for more pre-draft details, notes, and projections as they emerge.
The 2025 NBA Draft will take place on Wednesday, Jun. 25, at 8:00 p.m. ET at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
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
Jaden + Keon back home 🧡#NBAVols pic.twitter.com/JJnKwDZfqN
— Tennessee Basketball (@Vol_Hoops) June 21, 2025
