University of Tennessee Athletics
Vols Add First Team All-ASUN Selection Chaz Lanier
May 25, 2024 | Men's Basketball
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – University of Tennessee head men's basketball coach Rick Barnes announced Saturday the signing of North Florida transfer guard Chaz Lanier.
A 2023-24 First Team All-ASUN and NABC First Team All-District 3 honoree, Lanier will join the Volunteers in 2024-25 for his last year of collegiate eligibility.
"We are happy to welcome Chaz and his family to Rocky Top. As soon as Chaz entered the transfer portal, we identified him as someone we would love to bring home to the Volunteer State," Barnes said. "Our fan base will love his character, humility and work ethic, as well as his strong basketball IQ. He has already proven to be one of the most efficient scorers in college basketball and we feel his ability to put the ball in the basket from all over the floor will translate well to the SEC. Chaz has a desire to help us win another SEC championship, as well as contend for a national title. It is clear his goals and mindset blend well with the rest of the guys in our program and this is an excellent fit. Chaz's excitement about the opportunity to return to a state he loves so much was evident to us and we know Vol Nation will embrace him from day one."
A 6-foot-4, 199-pounder, Lanier comes to Rocky Top after four seasons at North Florida. He played in 104 games for the Ospreys, starting 49, while averaging 8.9 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game.
Among the nation's premier shooters, Lanier owns a career 48.1 percent field-goal clip, including a 40.7 percent mark from 3-point range, along with an 86.4 percent ledger at the line. He owns 37 double-figure scoring totals, notching 15-plus 25 times, 20-plus 15 times, 25-plus eight times and 30-plus four times.
The Nashville, Tenn., native is coming off a tremendous 2023-24 campaign, during which he averaged 19.7 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game. He appeared in all 32 of North Florida's games, making 31 starts, and posted a dazzling shooting line of 51.0 percent overall, 44.0 percent on 3-pointers (on 7.5 attempts per game) and 88.0 percent at the stripe. In league play, he hit the elite 50/40/90 mark with a 53.2 percent clip from the field, a 45.2 percent ledger from deep and a 90.5 percent tally at the line.
Lanier scored double-digit points in all but one outing as a senior, registering 15-plus points in 23 contests. All 15 of his 20-point showings as a collegian came in 2023-24, including his career-best 35-point display on Feb. 8, 2024, against North Alabama. That outing was part of an 11-game stretch (Jan. 12-Feb. 16) during which he averaged 25.9 points per outing on 54.9 percent shooting.
On 23 occasions in 2023-24, Lanier made at least three 3-pointers, tied for fourth-most in the country behind only CAA Player of the Year Tyler Thomas of Hofstra (27 in 33 GP), ACC Player of the Year R.J. Davis of North Carolina (24 in 37 GP) and Horizon League Sixth Man of the Year Jack Gohlke (24 in 36 GP). His 15 outings with four-plus made 3-pointers put him co-sixth nationally and he also recorded one double-double, amassing 17 points and 10 rebounds versus Northwestern State on Nov. 17, 2023.
In three of his five outings against Power Five teams in 2023-24, all of which came on the road, Lanier scored at least 16 points. He dropped 22 at Florida State on Dec. 19, 2023, as well as 16 on 6-of-11 shooting at Georgia on Dec. 22, 2023, and 16 on a 7-of-9 clip at Iowa on Nov. 29, 2023.
Lanier paced the ASUN in 3-point percentage and 3-point makes per game (3.31), while finishing second in scoring and free-throw percentage, as well as sixth in field-goal percentage and minutes per game (33.3). On a national level, he placed fifth among all Division I players in 3-point percentage, eighth in 3-point makes per game, No. 33 in free-throw percentage and No. 42 in scoring.
Additionally, Lanier ranked co-No. 19 in total made 3-pointers (106) while playing the second-fewest games (32) of any player in the top 25. Despite his appearance total, Lanier still tied for No. 20 in the country in 30-point showings and for No. 32 in 25-point performances.
Lanier was the only player in the country to post a 50/43/87 shooting line in 2023-24 while notching at least 1.5 attempts per game in each category. Only five others—Princeton's Matt Alloco, Marist's Javon Cooley, Missouri's Sean East II, Kentucky's Antonio Reeves and Alabama's Mark Sears—even had a 50/40/85 line on 1.5 attempts per game across the board.
Lanier was also the lone player to shoot at least 43.0 percent from deep with 3.3 makes per contest—only Dayton's Koby Brea did so at even 3.0 makes per game (min. two GP)—and the only one to post that clip on over 7.0 attempts per game. Over the last four seasons, 2020-24, Lanier is one of three players to shoot 43.0 percent from deep on at least 7.5 attempts per contest, alongside two first team all-league designees, Kansas State's Nijel Pack (2021-22) and Howard's Kyle Foster (2021-22).
Furthermore, Lanier is one of three Division I players in the last 16 seasons (2008-24) to average at least 19.0 points per game on a 50/43/87 shooting line in a campaign, joining Oklahoma's Buddy Hield (2015-16) and Creighton's Doug McDermott (2012-13), both of whom were consensus First Team All-Americans.
According to Synergy Sports, Lanier was the most efficient offensive player in the country (min. 15 possessions per game) in 2023-24, while another incoming Tennessee transfer guard, Darlinstone Dubar of Hofstra, placed fourth on that list. Per KenPom, Lanier ranked No. 13 in the country in true shooting percentage (66.3) and No. 26 in effective field-goal percentage (62.9) on the year.
Lanier, a three-time ASUN Player of the Week as a senior, is also a standout in the classroom. He collected ASUN All-Academic Team and CSC Academic All-District plaudits last season.
As a junior in 2022-23, Lanier appeared in all 31 of the Ospreys' affairs and made nine starts. He averaged 4.7 points and 2.5 rebounds per game, while shooting 45.4 percent from the floor and 39.1 percent beyond the arc. He thrice scored in double figures, with a season-high of 15 points at Lipscomb on Feb. 16, 2023.
During his sophomore campaign in 2021-22, Lanier played in all 31 of the team's games and started eight of them. He posted 4.5 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.1 assists per contest, twice logging double-digit points. As a freshman in 2020-21, Lanier made 10 appearances and one start for North Florida, scoring in double figures once while averaging 1.7 points per game in just 9.3 minutes per outing.
A three-year varsity letter winner at The Ensworth School, Lanier was a finalist for 2019-20 Tennessee Division II-AA Mr. Basketball honors, alongside future Volunteer guards Kennedy Chandler and B.J. Edwards. Named a The Tennessean First Team All-Midstate designee, Lanier averaged 22.8 points, 6.1 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game, shooting 56.9 percent from the floor and 45.3 percent (77-of-170) beyond the arc. He collected DII-AA First Team All-State accolades from both the Tennessee Sportswriters Association (TSWA) and The Tennessean, leading his team to the classification's quarterfinals in the state tournament.
Lanier's father, Thomas, scored 1,247 points at Lipscomb from 1992-96, while his mother, Stacey, played basketball at Alcorn State. On3 ranks Lanier as the ninth-best player in the transfer portal, while 247Sports places him No. 11 overall. Both sites rank him third among shooting guards.
Lanier is the fifth newcomer headed to Rocky Top in 2024-25, alongside high school guard Bishop Boswell, fifth-year transfer guard Darlinstone Dubar, senior transfer forward Igor Miličić Jr., and junior forward transfer Felix Okpara.
To keep up with the University of Tennessee men's basketball team on social media, follow @Vol_Hoops on Instagram and X/Twitter, as well as /tennesseebasketball on Facebook.
A 2023-24 First Team All-ASUN and NABC First Team All-District 3 honoree, Lanier will join the Volunteers in 2024-25 for his last year of collegiate eligibility.
"We are happy to welcome Chaz and his family to Rocky Top. As soon as Chaz entered the transfer portal, we identified him as someone we would love to bring home to the Volunteer State," Barnes said. "Our fan base will love his character, humility and work ethic, as well as his strong basketball IQ. He has already proven to be one of the most efficient scorers in college basketball and we feel his ability to put the ball in the basket from all over the floor will translate well to the SEC. Chaz has a desire to help us win another SEC championship, as well as contend for a national title. It is clear his goals and mindset blend well with the rest of the guys in our program and this is an excellent fit. Chaz's excitement about the opportunity to return to a state he loves so much was evident to us and we know Vol Nation will embrace him from day one."
A 6-foot-4, 199-pounder, Lanier comes to Rocky Top after four seasons at North Florida. He played in 104 games for the Ospreys, starting 49, while averaging 8.9 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game.
Among the nation's premier shooters, Lanier owns a career 48.1 percent field-goal clip, including a 40.7 percent mark from 3-point range, along with an 86.4 percent ledger at the line. He owns 37 double-figure scoring totals, notching 15-plus 25 times, 20-plus 15 times, 25-plus eight times and 30-plus four times.
The Nashville, Tenn., native is coming off a tremendous 2023-24 campaign, during which he averaged 19.7 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game. He appeared in all 32 of North Florida's games, making 31 starts, and posted a dazzling shooting line of 51.0 percent overall, 44.0 percent on 3-pointers (on 7.5 attempts per game) and 88.0 percent at the stripe. In league play, he hit the elite 50/40/90 mark with a 53.2 percent clip from the field, a 45.2 percent ledger from deep and a 90.5 percent tally at the line.
Lanier scored double-digit points in all but one outing as a senior, registering 15-plus points in 23 contests. All 15 of his 20-point showings as a collegian came in 2023-24, including his career-best 35-point display on Feb. 8, 2024, against North Alabama. That outing was part of an 11-game stretch (Jan. 12-Feb. 16) during which he averaged 25.9 points per outing on 54.9 percent shooting.
On 23 occasions in 2023-24, Lanier made at least three 3-pointers, tied for fourth-most in the country behind only CAA Player of the Year Tyler Thomas of Hofstra (27 in 33 GP), ACC Player of the Year R.J. Davis of North Carolina (24 in 37 GP) and Horizon League Sixth Man of the Year Jack Gohlke (24 in 36 GP). His 15 outings with four-plus made 3-pointers put him co-sixth nationally and he also recorded one double-double, amassing 17 points and 10 rebounds versus Northwestern State on Nov. 17, 2023.
In three of his five outings against Power Five teams in 2023-24, all of which came on the road, Lanier scored at least 16 points. He dropped 22 at Florida State on Dec. 19, 2023, as well as 16 on 6-of-11 shooting at Georgia on Dec. 22, 2023, and 16 on a 7-of-9 clip at Iowa on Nov. 29, 2023.
Lanier paced the ASUN in 3-point percentage and 3-point makes per game (3.31), while finishing second in scoring and free-throw percentage, as well as sixth in field-goal percentage and minutes per game (33.3). On a national level, he placed fifth among all Division I players in 3-point percentage, eighth in 3-point makes per game, No. 33 in free-throw percentage and No. 42 in scoring.
Additionally, Lanier ranked co-No. 19 in total made 3-pointers (106) while playing the second-fewest games (32) of any player in the top 25. Despite his appearance total, Lanier still tied for No. 20 in the country in 30-point showings and for No. 32 in 25-point performances.
Lanier was the only player in the country to post a 50/43/87 shooting line in 2023-24 while notching at least 1.5 attempts per game in each category. Only five others—Princeton's Matt Alloco, Marist's Javon Cooley, Missouri's Sean East II, Kentucky's Antonio Reeves and Alabama's Mark Sears—even had a 50/40/85 line on 1.5 attempts per game across the board.
Lanier was also the lone player to shoot at least 43.0 percent from deep with 3.3 makes per contest—only Dayton's Koby Brea did so at even 3.0 makes per game (min. two GP)—and the only one to post that clip on over 7.0 attempts per game. Over the last four seasons, 2020-24, Lanier is one of three players to shoot 43.0 percent from deep on at least 7.5 attempts per contest, alongside two first team all-league designees, Kansas State's Nijel Pack (2021-22) and Howard's Kyle Foster (2021-22).
Furthermore, Lanier is one of three Division I players in the last 16 seasons (2008-24) to average at least 19.0 points per game on a 50/43/87 shooting line in a campaign, joining Oklahoma's Buddy Hield (2015-16) and Creighton's Doug McDermott (2012-13), both of whom were consensus First Team All-Americans.
According to Synergy Sports, Lanier was the most efficient offensive player in the country (min. 15 possessions per game) in 2023-24, while another incoming Tennessee transfer guard, Darlinstone Dubar of Hofstra, placed fourth on that list. Per KenPom, Lanier ranked No. 13 in the country in true shooting percentage (66.3) and No. 26 in effective field-goal percentage (62.9) on the year.
Lanier, a three-time ASUN Player of the Week as a senior, is also a standout in the classroom. He collected ASUN All-Academic Team and CSC Academic All-District plaudits last season.
As a junior in 2022-23, Lanier appeared in all 31 of the Ospreys' affairs and made nine starts. He averaged 4.7 points and 2.5 rebounds per game, while shooting 45.4 percent from the floor and 39.1 percent beyond the arc. He thrice scored in double figures, with a season-high of 15 points at Lipscomb on Feb. 16, 2023.
During his sophomore campaign in 2021-22, Lanier played in all 31 of the team's games and started eight of them. He posted 4.5 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.1 assists per contest, twice logging double-digit points. As a freshman in 2020-21, Lanier made 10 appearances and one start for North Florida, scoring in double figures once while averaging 1.7 points per game in just 9.3 minutes per outing.
A three-year varsity letter winner at The Ensworth School, Lanier was a finalist for 2019-20 Tennessee Division II-AA Mr. Basketball honors, alongside future Volunteer guards Kennedy Chandler and B.J. Edwards. Named a The Tennessean First Team All-Midstate designee, Lanier averaged 22.8 points, 6.1 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game, shooting 56.9 percent from the floor and 45.3 percent (77-of-170) beyond the arc. He collected DII-AA First Team All-State accolades from both the Tennessee Sportswriters Association (TSWA) and The Tennessean, leading his team to the classification's quarterfinals in the state tournament.
Lanier's father, Thomas, scored 1,247 points at Lipscomb from 1992-96, while his mother, Stacey, played basketball at Alcorn State. On3 ranks Lanier as the ninth-best player in the transfer portal, while 247Sports places him No. 11 overall. Both sites rank him third among shooting guards.
Lanier is the fifth newcomer headed to Rocky Top in 2024-25, alongside high school guard Bishop Boswell, fifth-year transfer guard Darlinstone Dubar, senior transfer forward Igor Miličić Jr., and junior forward transfer Felix Okpara.
To keep up with the University of Tennessee men's basketball team on social media, follow @Vol_Hoops on Instagram and X/Twitter, as well as /tennesseebasketball on Facebook.
Players Mentioned
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