Chaz Lanier’s emergence as an NBA Draft hopeful has spotlighted the athletic roots that helped shape his path. Both of his parents boast athletic backgrounds and have remained steadfast supporters throughout his basketball journey.
A former late bloomer at North Florida, Lanier has transformed into a dynamic scorer at Tennessee, where he averaged 18.4 points and shot 42.6% from beyond the arc.
Now a projected second-round pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, the sharpshooting guard has drawn significant interest from scouts, thanks to his consistent playmaking and development into a key contributor for the Volunteers.
Meet the Parents Behind Chaz Lanier’s Rise to NBA Draft Fame
Chaz Harrison Lanier, born Dec. 19, 2001, in Nashville, Tenn., has developed into a top NBA Draft prospect, thanks in large part to his athletic lineage and unwavering family support. The Tennessee guard, known for his sharpshooting, averaged 18.4 points per game while connecting on 42.6% of his 3-point attempts during the 2024–25 season.
His breakout NCAA Tournament performance included 29 points in a Round of 64 win over Wofford, tying a career high in field goals made and matching a program record with six 3-pointers in a tournament game. He surpassed Chris Lofton’s single-season 3-point mark with 120 makes, placing sixth in SEC history.
Lanier’s parents, Thomas and Stacey, laid the foundation for his basketball career. Thomas played at Lipscomb from 1992 to 1996, scoring 1,247 points and standing out as a 6-foot-5 scorer. He now works as a freight manager at FedEx, but his legacy on the court and physical presence gave Chaz both motivation and a model to follow.
Stacey, his mother, was a player at Alcorn State during the 1988–89 season. A former Braves athlete, she later earned a B.S., Ed in Psychology from the same university and transitioned into entrepreneurship. As CEO and co-founder of The Atelier, Stacey brings a balance of ambition and discipline—traits reflected in Chaz’s development.
Chaz also has an older brother named Trey. In his fifth college season, he logged key postseason moments, including 20 points vs. UCLA, 17 against Kentucky, and a perfect 7-of-7 from the line in the Elite Eight versus Houston.
KEEP READING: Chaz Lanier NBA Draft Projections: 5 Potential Landing Spots for the Tennessee Guard
His 23-point outing in a hometown SEC Tournament win over Texas highlighted a season in which he became just the third Volunteer to eclipse 100 3-pointers in a year. The Lanier family’s impact on his journey is unmistakable.
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