Kentucky is the leader for one of the top uncommitted prospects in the transfer portal.
Kentucky may be the leader for one of the top uncommitted prospects in the transfer portal.
During an appearance on the Eye on College Basketball Podcast with Gary Parrish, Matt Norlander of CBS Sports said the Wildcats are at or near the top for North Florida shooting guard Chaz Lanier, who is ranked as the No. 10 transfer and No. 3 shooting guard in the portal 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 after previously announcing he would go test the waters of the 2024 NBA Draft.
Lanier was among the 45 players invited to attend the 2024 NBA G League Elite Camp, which takes place May 11-12 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago. He has until May 29 to withdraw from the 2024 NBA Draft in order to 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.
Twice, Lanier has played against Kentucky at Rupp Arena. As a junior in 2022-23, Lanier finished with two points and two rebounds in 18 minutes of a 96-56 loss. As a sophomore the year prior in 2021-22, Lanier finished with three steals while playing 17 scoreless minutes in an 86-52 Ospreys loss.
