Chaz Lanier does something no other Tennessee basketball player has done
![North Florida Ospreys guard Chaz Lanier (2) is introduced before the game of an NCAA men s basketball game Friday, Jan. 12, 2024 at the University of North Florida s UNF Arena in Jacksonville, Fla. UNF defeated JU 82-74. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_2261,h_1271,x_459,y_386/c_fill,w_1080,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images%2FImagnImages%2Fmmsport%2F212%2F01j1ahz6qyj07mzbte6f.jpg "North Florida Ospreys guard Chaz Lanier (2) is introduced before the game of an NCAA men s basketball game Friday, Jan. 12, 2024 at the University of North Florida s UNF Arena in Jacksonville, Fla. UNF defeated JU 82-74. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]")
Rick Barnes’ best teams are known for their stifling defense and restricting pressure. While he’s been the Tennessee basketball head coach, the Vols have vastly improved its defense from years before, and he’s now looking to step up his game on the offensive side of the court.
The Vols emphasized offense in the transfer portal and, more importantly, efficient offensive scoring. Barnes added some of the most efficient scorers in the country through the transfer portal to make one more run at a Final Four and National Championship.
Chaz Lanier is one of the players Barnes picked up in the portal. The First-Team All-ASUN guard averaged 19.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.8 assists last year for the North Florida Ospreys.
He’s a Nashville native and is returning to the Volunteer State for his senior season to play for Barnes and the Vols. His efficient scoring on offense landed him No. 1 in Synergy Bsketball’s efficiency rating, which might be why he’s making waves on Rocky Top for his scoring.
The most efficient offensive players in college basketball this season: pic.twitter.com/udikHLVmlD
— Synergy Basketball (@SynergySST) April 10, 2024
Barnes runs a shooting drill every year called the “KD Drill,” where players will take ten shots at seven different spots around the court. Players have to make 9/10 shots in each spot to complete the drill. If you miss more than one shot, you start the drill over.
The only player under Barnes to complete the drill was Kevin Durant when he was in Texas, which is why Barnes named it the KD Drill.
According to CBB Content on X/Twitter and first told by Jordan Moore, that changed this week when Lanier gave the KD Drill a try for himself. Lanier stepped up and attempted the KD Drill twice and completed it on his second attempt.
Lanier could be an immediate impact player for the Vols, which is a good sign with the season a few months away. The 2024/25 campaign for the BasketVols will start at the end of October. Lanier is one of a few new players looking to take the Vols to the mountaintop.