Rick Barnes on Tennessee transfer Chaz Lanier: 'He's a shot maker'
The flat-screen TVs on the wall inside Tennessee basketball’s Pratt Pavilion tell the stories. That’s where the stats are kept for various shooting drills during the offseason. And if you’re a green-light shooter, the numbers will show it.
“We have five, six different shooting drills that we do often with our players,” Tennessee coach Rick Barnes said Thursday during an appearance on ‘Josh & Swain’ on WNML-FM in Knoxville.
Scores are kept on the TVs for good reason. There’s no further explanation needed when players can see the percentages for themselves.
“There’s a lot of guys that play this game that think they’re better shooters than they are,” Barnes during the radio appearance. “And the numbers don’t lie. You put them up there every day and when they’re competing, they can see them.”
Chaz Lanier last season: 19.7 points per game, 51.0% FG, 44.0% 3FG
Chaz Lanier arrived at Tennessee a little over a month ago and is already setting a new standard in one big-name drill.
“Chaz,” Barnes said, “he’s a shot-maker. He really can (shoot it).”
Barnes went on to explain what he calls the Kevin Durant drill. It requires making nine of 10 shots from seven different spots on the floor.
“KD is the only guy that (did it),” Barnes said, “that’s what he did, (made) nine out of 10 from seven consecutive spots.
“And we’ve had guys get eight, we’ve had some guys get nine, but not (in) seven consecutive spots.”
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Lanier, the ultra productive, high-scoring guard from North Florida and the headliner in Tennessee’s transfer class, had no problems, though.
“Chaz did it his second attempt,” Barnes said.
Lanier averaged 19.7 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 33.4 minutes per game last season at North Florida, shooting 51.0% from the field and 44.0% from the 3-point line.
Chaz Lanier was the most efficient scorer in college basketball last season
The Nashville native erupted last season as college basketball’s most efficient scorer. According to Synergy Basketball, his 19.7 points came on just 16.3 possessions per game, putting him at 1.20 points per possession and ranked No. 1 in scoring efficiency last season.
“He’s working hard to get better in a lot of different areas,” Barnes said. “And he would tell you today the same thing that Dalton Knecht told people during his (NBA Draft) interviews.
“They asked him who was the best defensive player he played against, and he said, Jahmai Mashack. So Chaz is getting some of that every day and it has helped both of them.”
Lanier was one of four transfer additions, alongside Hofstra wing Darlinstone Dubar, Charlotte forward Igor Milicic Jr. and Ohio State center Felix Okpara.
“We’re just really getting started right now,” Barnes said. “But we’re obviously excited about Chaz. And again, his personality is, who he is as a person, he’s great teammate and he came here because he wants to win.”
