Tennessee Volunteers Prospect Improving Draft Stock in March Madness

The 2025 NBA Draft cycle heats up with the March Madness tournament where Chaz Lanier is able to stake his claim to draft stock with a massive performance.

Mar 22, 2025; Lexington, KY, USA; Tennessee Volunteers guard Chaz Lanier (2) reacts after a play during the second half against the UCLA Bruins in the second round of the NCAA Tournament at Rupp Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-Imagn Images | Jordan Prather-Imagn Images

The 2025 NBA Draft cycle is heating up with discourse as the NCAA begins the March Madness tournament. The lights are bright on the college prospects around the country as the basketball takes center stage. This gives prospects chances to climb up NBA Draft boards and perhaps shift public perception on the players at hand.

In this March Madness tournament the Tennessee Volunteers are hopeful to crack the NCAA Final Four for the first time in program history. The Vols have a great shot to do it after blowing past the first round rounds of the tournament with wins over Wofford and UCLA.

Next up? The Vols play the Kentucky Wildcats who have already bested Tennessee and cooled off its offensive attack in two other meetings this season. But, it is hard to beat a good time three times in a row. This gives the Tennessee prospects, headlined by transfer guard Chaz Lanier, a chance to bolster their draft position.

Lanier is a fringe draft pick but has an elite NBA trait with his 3-point shooting and the belief that he has defensive tools and a motor to make up for a lack of size.

This season, the prospect is shooting 41% from downtown and 40% in his college career as a whole while averaging 18.1 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.0 stocks per game in 36 games played.

Against UCLA, Lanier posted 20 points, four rebounds, two assists and a steal on a jaw-dropping 4-for-5 shooting from beyond the arc to let the Vols past the Bruins.