Vanderbilt basketball received one of its biggest offseason wins as star guard Tyler Tanner decided to withdraw from the 2026 NBA Draft and return to Nashville for another season.
However, while fans were waiting for his draft decision, rumors began circulating that Tanner could enter the transfer portal and potentially make a move to SEC rival Tennessee.
As it turns out, Tanner was just as confused by the speculation as everyone else.
Tyler Tanner Shuts Down Tennessee Transfer Rumors
Tanner revealed that he never considered transferring to another team; his decision always came down to either Vanderbilt or the NBA.
“I told (Mark Byington) in my exit meeting, ‘I can’t leave here.’ This is home for me and my family. It’s been so great to me. I would never change up. I’m going to stay loyal,” Tanner said.
Despite that, Tennessee rumors continued to circulate online for weeks.
“I don’t check social media a lot, like people who are messaging me,” Tanner said. “But so many Tennessee fans were either thinking I was going there for whatever reason or just trying to tell me to go there.”
The Vanderbilt guard couldn’t help but laugh at how persistent the speculation became.
“People even after the portal had closed were like, ‘Nah, he’s coming to Tennessee.’ I’m like, ‘I’m not coming to Tennessee. I don’t know where y’all got this information.’ It was wild.”
Tyler Tanner NBA Dream Takes a Pause
While Tanner dismissed transfer rumors, he revealed that he was really looking forward to going to the NBA. The 5-foot-11 guard admitted he was fully invested in the draft process and came closer to leaving.
According to Tanner, several teams viewed him as a potential first-round selection, though nobody could provide a guarantee.
“Everybody said that they thought I would be picked in the first round, but there was no way to be 100% sure,” he said.
On the final day before the withdrawal deadline, Tanner was still conducting workouts with both the Hornets and Grizzlies. But due to uncertainty surrounding his draft position, he decided to come back to Vanderbilt for one more season.
Tanner’s return immediately changes expectations for the Commodores. After leading Vanderbilt to the NCAA Tournament, he returns as the centerpiece to a roster that has been rebuilt through the portal.
“If I’m in college, this is where I want to be, definitely unfinished business, for sure,” Tanner said.
For Vanderbilt fans, that loyalty may be the biggest offseason victory of all.
Also Read:
Who Are Tyler Tanner’s Parents? A Look at the Family of Vanderbilt Star Guard
Biggest Winners and Losers From the 2026 NBA Draft Withdrawal Deadline
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