Tennessee's Chaz Lanier Predicted to Join $269 Million Star in NBA Mock Draft

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Dave Holcomb | Last updated Jun 26, 2025 1:06 PM ET

The Tennessee Volunteers leading scorer from the 2024-25 men's basketball roster didn't hear his name called in the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft. But he is expected to come off the board in the second.

ESPN's Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo projected it to be early in the second round.

In a 2025 NBA second-round mock draft, ESPN predicted Volunteers shooting guard Chaz Lanier to land with point guard Cade Cunningham and the Detroit Pistons at No. 37 overall, or seventh in the second round.

"A true late bloomer who averaged 3.7 points per game over his first three collegiate seasons, Lanier turned a corner with his jumper as an upperclassman to complement his solid size, frame and 6-foot-9 wingspan," Givony wrote.

"He is not much of a ball handler and will need to use his tools better defensively, but he has a clear niche to fill with the way he can space the floor and shoot off screens."

Lanier led the Volunteers in scoring last season with 18 points per game. The shooting guard shot 43.1%, including 39.5% from the 3-point line.

Lanier also averaged 3.9 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 0.9 steals per contest. Behind those efforts, Tennessee advanced to the Elite Eight.

Chaz Lanier is one of the premier snipers in this draft. This guy has the length, athleticism and overall shot making ability to be a high impact rotational piece at the next level. Think Buddy Hield/Isaiah Joe mold. He’ll be a productive NBA player. pic.twitter.com/gIG9cN6BOh
— Savant Hoops (@SavantHoops) June 24, 2025

Lanier played one season for the Volunteers. During his first four college seasons, he played for the North Florida Ospreys.

As Givony explained, Lanier was a "true late bloomer." The guard didn't earn a regular starting role at North Florida until 2023-24.

In his last two college seasons, Lanier averaged 18.8 points per game while shooting 46.4%.

In Detroit, Lanier could play significant minutes next to Cunningham, who signed a five-year, $269 million extension with the Pistons. Cunningham isn't eligible for free agency until 2030.

The second round of the 2025 NBA Draft begins at 8 pm ET on Thursday.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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