Rick Barnes says Tennessee transfer Chaz Lanier dealing with a minor foot issue
Tennessee Basketball transfer Chaz Lanier is dealing with a minor foot issue, according to head coach Rick Barnes. Barnes met with reporters on Thursday during Tennessee’s media day at Food City Center.
Barnes said Lanier has an “inflamed something on his foot.” Lanier took part in Tennessee’s pro day earlier this week, according to the Vols.
“He’s been going in and out,” Barnes said. “(We’re) bringing him back, too, slowly.”
Tennessee hosts Indiana in a charity exhibition game on October 27 at Food City Center and opens the regular-season schedule against Gardner-Webb on November 4.
Up Next: Tennessee vs. Indiana, Charity Exhibition, Sunday, October 27
Sophomore center JP Estrella is also dealing with a foot issue, which Barnes discussed in September.
“He’s doing a little bit more each day,” Barnes said on Thursday. “I don’t where he is in terms of, maybe he has a good day, maybe he has a setback. We need him. But Chad (Newman has) done a great job, I think, making sure that he will be ready when the time comes.
“He’s also a player that needs work and reps. So they’re working him back in where he’s starting to get up and down the floor. I don’t how to answer when he’ll be (ready) or where he’ll be. Just depends on the progresses over these next couple weeks.”
Estrella, the 6-foot-11, 241-pound sophomore from Scarborough, Maine, averaged 5.0 minutes off the bench while playing in 25 games as a freshman last season. He averaged 1.6 points and 0.8 rebounds per game while shooting 71.4% from the floor.
Estrella should play a much bigger role in his second season after Tennessee lost both center Jonas Aidoo and power forward Tobe Awaka to the NCAA Transfer Portal. Aidoo transferred to Arkansas while Awaka went to Arizona.
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Lanier committed to Tennessee and signed with the Vols in May. He was ranked No. 8 in the NCAA Transfer Portal On3 Industry Ranking and No. 9 in the On3 rankings.
The Nashville native averaged 19.7 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 33.4 minutes per game last season, shooting 51.0% from the field and 44.0% from the 3-point line.
Tennessee added four new transfer to this season’s roster
Lanier is one of four transfers that helped Tennessee remake its roster this season. The Vols also added Ohio State center Felix Okpara, Hofstra wing Darlinstone Dubar and Charlotte stretch forward Igor Milicic Jr.
The 6-foot-10, 225-pound Milicic averaged 12.8 points and 8.5 rebounds as a junior this season at Charlotte, shooting 48.7% from the field and 37.6% from the 3-point line.
Dubar averaged a career-high 17.8 points per game in 33 games this season, shooting 53.9% from the floor and 39.9% from the 3-point line.
Okpara, the 6-foot-11, 235-pound big man, averaged 6.6 points, 6.4 rebounds and 2.4 blocks at Ohio State last season and averaged 5.3 points and 5.0 rebounds over the last two years.
