Back for More Rocky Top Magic: Chaz Lanier Explains Why He’s Staying with the Tennessee Volunteers
KNOXVILLE, TN — In an era where the transfer portal churns at full speed and college basketball stars leap for the NBA Draft at the earliest glimmer of promise, Chaz Lanier has taken the road less traveled — and it has everything to do with faith, loyalty, and a vision yet to be fulfilled in Knoxville.
On a rainy Thursday afternoon in April, surrounded by friends, coaches, and media inside the Ray and Lucy Hand Digital Studio at Tennessee’s Anderson Training Center, Lanier leaned into the microphone, smiled softly, and delivered the announcement that Volunteers fans had been quietly hoping for:
> “I’m coming back. One more season on Rocky Top. One more chance to finish what we started.”
With that, the Tennessee Volunteers received a monumental boost for their 2025–26 campaign — not just in scoring, but in leadership, identity, and experience. And for Lanier, a 6’4” shooting guard who led the Vols in points per game last season, the decision to stay went beyond basketball.
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From North Florida to Rocky Top Stardom
Lanier’s story is already the stuff of Southern hoops folklore. A once-underrecruited guard from Nashville, he spent his first four collegiate seasons at North Florida. As a senior in 2023–24, he lit up the ASUN Conference with 19.7 points per game, earning First-Team All-ASUN honors and catching the attention of high-major programs nationwide.
But Lanier didn’t just chase clout. He wanted culture, he wanted coaching, and he wanted a chance to grow in an environment that prioritized development. That led him to Tennessee — and to head coach Rick Barnes.
> “When I got to Knoxville, it just felt right,” Lanier said. “The energy. The fanbase. The way Coach Barnes believes in his players. It was the perfect fit.”
And the results spoke volumes. In his debut season with the Volunteers, Lanier wasted no time establishing himself as the team’s offensive heartbeat. He averaged 17.2 points per game, shot 41% from three, and delivered several signature performances — including a 25-point night against Kentucky and a buzzer-beating dagger versus Florida that sent Thompson-Boling Arena into delirium.
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The NBA Temptation
Following Tennessee’s Sweet 16 exit in March, Lanier’s name appeared on several NBA draft boards. ESPN ranked him No. 38 in their top 100 prospects for 2025. Multiple mock drafts had him pegged as a late second-rounder, and scouts praised his perimeter shooting, poise under pressure, and maturity on the court.
So what made him turn down the allure of professional basketball?
> “I was close,” Lanier admitted. “Really close. I had a great feedback process. I talked to agents, I talked to scouts. I even worked out with some pro guys in Atlanta. But every time I thought about leaving… I just felt like I wasn’t done yet.”
He paused, then added, “I love Tennessee. I love my teammates. And I believe next season can be something special — not just for me, but for this program.”
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Unfinished Business and Championship Aspirations
The 2024–25 season ended in heartbreak for the Vols, who fell to Baylor in a narrow Sweet 16 loss. For Lanier, the sting of that defeat still lingers — and it’s fueling his fire.
> “We were close,” he said. “Too close. And I think about that game every day. I think about the defensive lapses, the missed box outs, the turnovers. And I think: what if I had just one more shot to lead this team deeper?”
With several key players returning — including point guard Zakai Zeigler and center Felix Okpara — Tennessee’s roster is shaping up to be one of the most experienced and balanced in the SEC. The return of Lanier now gives the Vols a proven closer and a locker-room general whose voice carries weight.
> “The message I gave my teammates was simple,” Lanier said. “Let’s go get it. No more Sweet 16s. We want the Final Four. We want it all.”
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Faith, Family, and Fulfillment
Behind the basketball drive lies a deeper motivation for Lanier’s decision. The 23-year-old guard is known not just for his silky jumper but for his grounding in faith and family.
> “God’s timing is perfect,” Lanier said. “And I felt a peace about staying. My family supported it, my coaches supported it. And deep down, I just felt like I hadn’t given everything I could to this program yet.”
Lanier also expressed a desire to finish his Master’s degree in sports management, a goal that had weighed heavily in his deliberation process.
> “Education matters to me,” he said. “My mom always told me that basketball can stop bouncing at any time, but that degree will last forever.”
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Coach Barnes Reacts
Head coach Rick Barnes, who has coached numerous future pros including Kevin Durant and Grant Williams, was beaming with pride following Lanier’s announcement.
> “Chaz is the kind of player you build championship teams around,” Barnes said. “He’s selfless. He’s tireless. He plays with heart. And he represents everything we stand for at Tennessee.”
Barnes added that Lanier’s return will also help mentor younger players like four-star freshman Quincy Jefferson and redshirt sophomore Trey Wallace, both of whom are expected to take larger roles next season.
> “Leadership like Chaz’s is rare,” Barnes said. “You don’t just get it from talent. It comes from character. And he’s got it in spades.”
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A Legacy Still Unwritten
As Tennessee fans begin to dream about the 2025–26 season, they can take comfort in knowing that one of their brightest stars is running it back — not for fame or fortune, but for faith, family, and a shot at history.
> “I want to walk off that court next March knowing I gave everything,” Lanier said. “And I want to hear that Rocky Top chant ringing in the rafters of a Final Four arena. That’s what brought me back.”
And just like that, the Vols’ championship hopes got a little brighter. Chaz Lanier isn’t done yet. And neither is Tennessee.
