Transferring to the University of Tennessee for his fifth year of college basketball helped boost Chaz Lanier’s draft stock. Lanier showed professional organizations he was capable of making the jump to a high-level Division I program and improving his all-around game.
The Detroit Pistons made Lanier’s dream a reality by selecting the shooting guard in the second round of the NBA Draft last week with the No. 37 overall pick.
“I mean, it’s a crazy feeling,” the Nashville (Ensworth School) native says. “This is the thing that you work so hard for, the moment you put so much hard work into to get to. So it’s just a blessing.”
Lanier was one of two Vols selected in this year’s draft. Guard Jahmai Mashack was picked by the Houston Rockets as the No. 59 and final pick of the draft and traded to the Memphis Grizzlies.
It’s the fifth consecutive year a Tennessee player has been selected in the NBA Draft. The Vols are one of just five teams with at least a five-year streak, alongside Baylor, Connecticut, Duke and Kentucky. Tennessee, Duke and Kentucky are the only schools with double-digit draft choices over the last seven years. The Volunteers are the only team to achieve that feat with the same coach the entire time.
UT head coach Rick Barnes has produced 10 NBA Draft picks during his run at UT, including multiple picks three times.
Former UT guard Zakai Zeigler went undrafted but agreed to play with the Pistons in the NBA Summer League. Zeigler filed a lawsuit against the NCAA May 20 seeking a fifth year of eligibility. On June 12, he was denied a preliminary injunction, which would have granted him eligibility. He filed an appeal June 17.
Former UT guard Jordan Gainey agreed to play with the Phoenix Suns in summer league. Former UT forward Igor Milicic Jr. agreed to a one-year, non-guaranteed minimum salary contract with the Philadelphia 76ers.
Mashack, one of four finalists for the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year award, left UT as the program’s winningest player in the NCAA Tournament with nine victories. The Southern California native was familiar with the Grizzlies franchise, and not just because he played college in the state.
“Tony Allen is a guy I’ve always watched since I was little. It might not be the most popular person to watch for a lot of people, but for me, it was still something special,” says Mashack, referring to the former Grizzlies defensive stalwart. “Just knowing those times and also being at Rocky Top, it’s huge for the state of Tennessee and all the fans there. But I’m excited because I’ve always been about winning and I’ve always wanted to be and strived to be a winner and I think that fits what they’re trying to do, as well.”
Maximizing one year
After spending four years playing at the University of North Florida, Lanier spent one year at UT and averaged 18.0 points while shooting 35% from 3-point range. He set a program single-season record with 123 made 3-pointers. Lanier won the Jerry West Award as the nation’s best shooting guard and was named SEC Newcomer of the Year.
“My previous year at Tennessee really helped me get ready for the next level in a numerous amount of ways, especially on defense,” Lanier says. “And on the offensive side, being able to play faster and just do everything a step faster.”
The Pistons interviewed Lanier during the NBA Draft Combine in May, and brought him in for a workout in Detroit. They talked with his agent throughout the second day of the draft and planned to select him if he was still available.
“He’s very coachable,” Pistons director of basketball operations Trajan Langdon told reporters. “Was only at Tennessee for one year and picked up everything. Got in the weight room, got in a lot better shape – and you have to, to play in Rick Barnes’ style of defense (and) run the floor and be able to shoot. He adapted, and to adapt at this level, you’ve got to watch and learn. There’s a chance for him to learn from some of the great ones. We’re excited to have him. We think he’ll be a great fit.”
Creating drive
The Grizzlies said they wanted to “draft dogs,” and Mashack believes he falls into that category of wanting to embrace the grind and do the dirty work to help the team succeed.
“It’s something that I’ve always done. It’s not something that a coach asked me to do and I decided to buy into that. It’s something that I’ve been doing since I was 12, 13, 14 years old when I told my dad that I want to become a great basketball player,” he says. “He sat me down and he told me, it’s not going to be through making the most points or having the flashiest passes or looking at highlights, it’s going to be being the hardest working dog that you can be. I’ve embraced that ever since I was in high school and college and I don’t plan on doing nothing different now. I know what got me here.”
Mashack is the third UT player ever selected by Memphis. He joins Fred Jenkins (No. 129 in 1987) and Michael Brooks (No. 88 in 1985). Reporters joked that Mashack can help “unite” East Tennessee and West Tennessee.
“Being a kid from Cali and going to Tennessee and creating a name like that and being known as a Mr. Tennessee type guy, it’s not something that happens very often. I definitely wear that proudly,” he says. “They know that I’ve come from not being the most highly-ranked and not being the guy that’s going to put up 45, 50 points.
“They’re already calling me Mr. Irrelevant because I was the last pick of the draft. I love it, man,” Mashack continues. “That’s what creates my passion, that’s what creates my drive. I love when people feel like I can’t do something and I go out and do it anyway and prove them wrong and prove myself right.”
During his draft night news conference, Lanier asked about his message to UT fans.
“Vol Nation, I love you. Thank you for changing my life and pouring into me,” he says. “Knoxville is my home forever now and I love you all.”