Tennessee basketball given crystal ball for top-ranked guard in transfer portal

Rick Barnes and Tennessee basketball have been targeting efficiency in this year's transfer portal class, and it looks like they are targeting one of the country's most efficient scorers to round out the 2024 transfer portal class. 

Chaz Lanier is the No. 1 ranked combo guard and No. 8 overall prospect in this year's portal class, according to 247Sports. On3 Sports ranks Lanier as the No. 2 shooting guard and No. 7 player overall. 

Lanier had a breakout season last year as a Junior. He averaged 19.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.8 assists while shooting 51% from the field and 44% from three-point range. ESPN NBA Draft analyst Jonathan Givony credits Lanier with a 67% true shooting percentage and one of the most efficient players in the country last season. 

Some heavyweights are competing for Lanier's commitment. Tennessee, Kentucky, Florida State, and Maryland are also players for his commitment. Lanier is also going through the NBA Draft process, so there's a possibility that He doesn't return to college at all and chooses to play professional basketball. 

While there's the prospect that Lanier will stay in Florida and commit to FSU or join SEC blue blood Kentucky, On3 Sports' Jamie Shaw predicts that Lanier will commit to Tennessee. 

Tennessee is currently the only team on Lanier's page under On3's Recruiting Prediction Machine (RPM), where On3 staff can give crystal ball predictions for recruits. More often, These predictions are right, but it's not a 100% guarantee that Shaw or On3 know Lanier will commit to the Vols. 

Lanier has yet to announce his decision on where he will spend his senior season or go to the NBA, but he did post two eyeball emojis on Twitter/X on Wednesday, the first day after the transfer portal closed. 

This could mean Lanier is nearing a decision. This would be a huge commitment for the Vols after they lost four guards, thanks to graduation and the portal. Tennessee has signed three transfers, but two are forwards, and one is a center, so Lanier would round out the Vols' transfer class and roster for next season. 

We still have a couple of weeks before Lanier has to decide between college and the NBA, but we could get a decision sooner rather than later. The Vols have the crystal ball for Lanier, but it could still be a battle between Tennessee and Kentucky.