Last year, it was Dalton Knecht’s name that was called during the NBA Draft. This year, the situation for Tennessee is less certain, but according to a big board from ESPN, Chaz Lanier appears to have a strong chance of being selected.
Lanier, a Nashville native and a successful transfer under Rick Barnes, is ranked No. 42 by ESPN’s Jonathan Givony, suggesting he is likely to be a mid-second-round pick in next month’s NBA Draft.
At 6-4 and 199 pounds, the 23-year-old guard had a standout season in what many consider one of the greatest conferences ever. He averaged 18 points per game and shot 39.5% from beyond the arc. While he may not have possessed the game-changing ability of Knecht, he stepped up effectively to help lead Tennessee to another Elite Eight appearance.
Previously, Lanier played four seasons at North Florida, where he served as a role player for three years. However, in his final year there, he had a breakout season, averaging nearly 20 points per game as his minutes increased from 19.6 to over 33. With his impressive shooting, hitting 44% from three-point range, he is set to transition to the NBA, where he is likely to become a bench shooter.
Igor Milicic was also recognized on the top 100 list by Givony, coming in at 94th overall. The Charlotte transfer is expected to take an undrafted free agent path after averaging 9.4 points and 6.7 rebounds per game in his only season with the Vols. With a father who is a well-respected coach in Poland, Milicic has a potential backup plan if his NBA dreams don’t pan out.
Looking ahead, Nate Ament is listed as the No. 4 prospect in ESPN’s 2026 NBA Mock Draft. The five-star recruit chose Tennessee over offers from Duke, Kentucky, and Arkansas among others, giving Rick Barnes a top-tier player to develop for the upcoming season. Standing at 6-9, Ament is expected to be a central figure for Tennessee as they aim for a high pick in the 2026 draft.
The 2025 NBA Draft is scheduled for Wednesday, June 25th, with coverage provided by ABC and ESPN.
Leave a Reply