Tennessee basketball extended its streak to a program-best five straight NBA Drafts with a player selected last week. The Detroit Pistons selected shooting guard Chaz Lanier with the 37th pick in the draft before the Memphis Grizzlies selected Jahmai Mashack with the final pick in the draft.
The Vols’ two guards in the second round moved Tennessee’s draft total to 10 players selected in the last seven years, dating back to the 2019 NBA Draft. Tennessee is one of just three schools to have double-digit draft selections in that time, joining blue bloods Duke and Kentucky.
Four of those players have gone in the first round with Grant Williams going with the No. 22 pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, Keon Johnson going with the No. 21 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, Jaden Springer going with No. 28 pick in the 2021 draft and Dalton Knecht going with the 17th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.
Admiral Schofield, Jordan Bone, Kennedy Chandler and Julian Phillips joined Lanier and Mashack as second round draft picks.
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Williams has been the most successful professional Vol of the bunch while Dalton Knecht, Keon Johnson, Jaden Springer and Julian Phillips all remain in the NBA. Admiral Schofield had a six-year NBA career before beginning to play overseas this past season. Neither point guard Jordan Bone nor Kennedy Chandler stuck in the NBA after short stints.
Tennessee will almost certainly add one more draft pick next summer with Nate Ament. The five-star freshman projects as a top five pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. Point guard Ja’Kobi Gillespie could also be a draft pick next summer.
Veteran head coach Rick Barnes has led Tennessee to an impressive run of NBA Draft picks but more importantly an unprecedented run of success on the court during his 10-year tenure as head coach.
Over the last seven years, Tennessee has made six NCAA Tournaments including four trips to the Sweet 16 and two trips to the Elite Eight. The Vols also won the 2022 SEC Tournament and the outright 2024 SEC Regular-Season Championship.
