JUST IN: Is Kentucky the leader in top ten transfers?
Kentucky may be a popular destination for uncommitted prospects in the transfer portal.
On the Eye on College Basketball Podcast with Gary Parrish, Matt Norlander of CBS Sports mentioned that North Florida shooting guard Chaz Lanier is ranked as the No. 10 transfer and No. 3 shooting guard in the country by 247Sports.
“North Florida’s Chaz Lanier is not a big-time name but he’s being sought after by big schools,” Norlander said. “And it’s looking like that might be Kentucky, and if it’s not Kentucky, it’s Tennessee, and if it’s not Tennessee, it might be BYU.”
After four seasons with the Ospreys, the 6-foot-4, 190-pound guard entered the transfer portal on April 24. He already announced his intention to test the waters of the 2024 NBA Draft.
Lanier is one of 45 players accepted to the 2024 NBA G League Elite Camp, held May 11-12 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago. He has until May 29 to withdraw from the 2024 NBA Draft and return to school.
In addition to Kentucky, Lanier is also receiving interest from BYU, Cincinnati, Duke, Florida Atlantic, Illinois, Kansas State, Louisville, Maryland, Miami, Mississippi State, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Villanova and West Virginia.
The Wildcats, who are still looking for a bucket-getter in the portal, appear to have at least a little bit of traction with Lanier.
As a senior this season, Lanier started 31 of 32 games for North Florida, averaging 19.7 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game while shooting 51.0% from the field, 44.0% from 3-point range, and 86.4% from the free throw line.
He scored in double figures in 31 of 32 games with 15 20-point games and four games of 30 or more points, including 35 vs. North Alabama, 33 vs. Appalachian State and Bellarmine and 30 vs. Charleston Southern.
He scored a season-high 35 points in a loss to North Alabama, had two 33-point performances, a 30-point night and logged one double-double.
Lanier has played twice versus Kentucky in Rupp Arena. As a junior in 2022-23, Lanier had two points and two rebounds in 18 minutes of a 96-56 loss. As a sophomore in 2021-22, Lanier had three steals and 17 scoreless minutes in an 86-52 loss against the Ospreys.
Over four collegiate seasons, all at North Florida, Lanier appeared in 104 games with 49 starts, averaging 8.9 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.2 assists while shooting 40.7% from three and 86.4% from the line. He’s 71 points shy of reaching 1,000 points.
Pope’s inaugural 2024 transfer class at Kentucky, which includes No. 21 Brandon Garrison (Oklahoma State), No. 28 Otega Oweh (Oklahoma), No. 45 Lamont Butler (San Diego State), No. 66 Andrew Carr (Wake Forest), No. 81 Amari Williams (Drexel), No. 104 Koby Brea (Dayton), and No. 118 Kerr Kriisa (West Virginia), is ranked No. 5 nationally by 247Sports.
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