Nashville homecoming part of Chaz Lanier's 'dream come true' playing for Tennessee

Even when Chaz Lanier was averaging 22.8 points, 6.1 rebounds and 3.7 assists during a breakout senior year at The Ensworth School in Nashville, he didn’t think he’d ever end up wearing a Tennessee uniform. 

Not even this past spring, after another breakout season, this time as a senior at North Florida, where he averaged 19.7 points per game last season.

“I never thought I’d be wearing Tennessee colors,” Lanier told reporters in Nashville Friday afternoon. “When I got in the Transfer Portal and Tennessee contacted me, it was, I don’t know, it was like a dream come true.”

The next stop in that dream is Memorial Gymnasium in Lanier’s hometown, where No. 6 Tennessee (16-1, 3-1 SEC) faces Vanderbilt (14-3, 2-2) Saturday afternoon (3:30 Eastern Time, SEC Network).

Chaz Lanier this season: 18.2 points per game, 41.1% FG, 41.7% 3FG

Lanier on Friday estimated somewhere between 60 and 70 family and friends will be in the building on West End as he makes his return.

“It’s going be a good turnout,” Lanier said. “It is my mom’s side, my dad’s side, and then some of my friends. I mean, if I could get more tickets, I have more people for sure.” 

Through his first 17 games at Tennessee, Lanier is the leading scorer for the Vols and is third in the SEC, averaging 18.2 points per game. He’s shooting 41.1% from the field, 41.7% from the 3-point line. He has scored 20 or more points in seven games and 17 or more in all but five.

For the second straight year, Rick Barnes has hit on one of the best scorers in the NCAA Transfer Portal, after hitting on Dalton Knecht a year ago.

It hasn’t come without struggles, though. Lanier enters Saturday’s homecoming on his coldest stretch this season, making just 8 of 43 shots over his last three games, including just 4-for-24 from the 3-point line.  

“I’ve been challenging myself throughout the whole season,” Lanier said. “Starting in the summer, my teammates have been pushing me, we’ve been pushing each other. Coach Barnes stays hard on us, so it has been fun. I’ve gotten much better, but it’s been challenging.”

Saturday won’t be Lanier’s first game back at home. During his North Florida career he played games at Lipscomb — where his father, Thomas Lanier, played basketball — and Austin Peay.

“So I used to come to Nashville a lot,” Lanier said.

‘It’s all been kind of a daze to just go through all of it’

This trip back will just be a little bigger than the others — wearing Tennessee orange at Vanderbilt in front of a huge collection of family and friends. 

“It’s a big deal to me,” Lanier said. “Family means everything. Friends mean everything. That’s it. They’re a huge part of my life. They’re my support system. So it’s going to be a good time to have them in the crowd being able to watch me. Just very fortunate for the opportunity.”

Lanier said he didn’t grow up going to Vanderbilt games, but knows fans from both sides and knows what the rivalry means. And it’s one he has wanted to get a taste of, even if he does view it as nothing more than the next game on schedule.

“It’s just another game for me,” Lanier said. “But I’m definitely excited … it was definitely one I’ve been looking forward to, just being from the area, being able to have my family and friends come see me in person.”

To see him living out a dream. 

“It’s all been kind of a daze to just go through all of it,” Lanier said of his Tennessee career, “meet the people I’ve met in the program, be coached by Coach Barnes. It’s just been a blessing.”