Chaz Lanier plays a different position and possesses a different skillset, but from the day he announced his commitment to Tennessee, he insured that he would hear Dalton Knecht comparisons for the next year.
The No. 4 prospect to enter the transfer portal this offseason, according to On3’s Industry Rankings, Lanier was tabbed by head coach Rick Barnes to lead the offense.
As late in the offseason as SEC Media Day, Barnes jokingly admitted he was just like all the fans, looking for the next Knecht.
“I’ve told them before, he made us change,” said Barnes. “We did some things later on that we weren’t even practicing this time last year. But once we saw what he could do, we were able to add some things.”
Chaz Lanier has not taken the typical path to NBA Draft boards – or even to Tennessee – but now brings an intriguing offensive skillset which promises to transfer well between levels depending on the opportunity.
Lanier averaged 19.7 points on 44-percent 3-point shooting last year in the ASUN. The production was enough to land him a spot in Tennessee’s lineup but was also a big leap from past seasons.
Over his first three seasons at North Florida, the guard never averaged more than five points, starting just 18 games across that time.
He has quieted many of those concerns about making a second leap early, averaging 17.7 points on 54.8-percent from 3 early this season. In fact, the concerns gave way to excitement when he shot 13/22 from beyond the arc and finished with 51 points in two games against Virginia and Baylor last week.
Lanier brings a fluid offensive game into the SEC, where he will be given every opportunity to prove himself against high-level defenders to score on the perimeter and off the bounce.
While defense is not where he has made his name so far, his willingness to play for Barnes should pay dividends on the court and in the eyes of scouts.
At 6-foot-4, he is right on the edge of where most NBA teams like their guards – particularly off the ball – to stand. Age is also a question which plagued Knecht in the pre-draft process and will certainly follow Lanier.
At this point in the season, Lanier is a prospect worthy of second-round discussion. The remainder of this season could lead him as high up as the first round with consistency and improvement.
However, just as Knecht has proven early on that those concerns were overblown, Lanier will be given opportunities to make a name for himself regardless of the players before him or the story behind him.
