Tennessee basketball in battle with SEC rival for top guard in transfer portal

Rick Barnes said earlier this week that Tennessee basketball is in no rush to fill the three remaining scholarships available on its roster. The same sentiment has come from Chaz Lanier, who is in no hurry to decide where he will play basketball next year. 

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

He had a breakout season this past year as a junior, which landed his name on many big boards for college basketball programs across the country and in the NBA. He averaged 19.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.8 assists while shooting 51% from the field and 44% from three-point range.

He's also one of the most efficient shooters in the nation. ESPN NBA Draft analyst Jonathan Givony credits Lanier with a 67% true shooting percentage, which is among the best in the country. 

The Vols have been the leaders in the clubhouse for Lanier since he entered the transfer portal. Tennessee was a virtual lock to land Lanier at the end of April. It looked like Barnes and the Vols would run away in the recruiting battle and add another high-powered, efficient player to its lineup for the 2024-25 season. 

That sentiment has changed throughout the first half of May. Tennessee is still in the running for Lanier and could be neck and neck with an SEC rival for Lanier's commitment, but they are no longer the undisputed front-runner. 

Kentucky is competing with the Vols for Lanier's commitment. The Wildcats have emerged as a serious option. Matt Norlander of CBS Sports even reported that the Cats are leading the Vols in this regard. 

Lanier also entered his name into the NBA Draft, so it is possible that he won't return to college basketball after going through NBA workouts. On3 Sports' Jamie Shaw predicted that Lanier would commit to Tennessee earlier this month, but there's a lot still at play for Lanier. 

He still has a couple of weeks before deciding between college basketball and the NBA. His attention is likely focused on the NBA, with combine workouts coming soon, but he could soon turn his full attention to Kentucky and Tennessee.