The Wildcats are still in the market for a scorer and the North Florida guard fits the bill
Kentucky is among the schools involved with one of the top uncommitted prospects in the transfer portal.
The Wildcats are actively pursuing North Florida shooting guard Chaz Lanier, who is ranked as the No. 10 transfer and No. 3 shooting guard in the portal by 247Sports.
After four seasons with the Ospreys, the 6-foot-4, 190-pound guard entered the transfer portal on April 24 after previously announcing he would go test the waters of the 2024 NBA Draft.
In addition to Kentucky, Lanier is also receiving interest from BYU, Cincinnati, Duke, Florida Atlantic, Illinois, Kansas State, Louisville, Maryland, Miami, Mississippi State, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Villanova and West Virginia, according to CBS Sports college basketball insider Jon Rothstein.
The Wildcats, who are still looking for a bucket-getter in the portal, appear to have at least a little bit of traction with Lanier.
“Kentucky has been mentioned some as another that could draw interest but we aren’t sure they are on the same level and at this point we’d give the edge to Tennessee with Maryland right there applying pressure,” 247Sports National Basketball Director Eric Bossi said recently.
As a senior this season, Lanier started 31 of 32 games for North Florida, averaging 19.7 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game while shooting 51.0% from the field, 44.0% from 3-point range, and 86.4% from the free throw line.
In addition to Kentucky, Lanier is also receiving interest from BYU, Cincinnati, Duke, Florida Atlantic, Illinois, Kansas State, Louisville, Maryland, Miami, Mississippi State, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Villanova and West Virginia, according to CBS Sports college basketball insider Jon Rothstein.
The Wildcats, who are still looking for a bucket-getter in the portal, appear to have at least a little bit of traction with Lanier.
He scored in double figures in 31 of 32 games with 15 20-point games and four games of 30 or more points, including 35 vs. North Alabama, 33 vs. Appalachian State and Bellarmine and 30 vs. Charleston Southern.
He scored a season-high 35 points in a loss to North Alabama, had two 33-point performances, a 30-point night and logged one double-double.
Twice, Lanier has played against Kentucky at Rupp Arena. As a junior in 2022-23, Lanier finished with two points and two rebounds in 18 minutes of a 96-56 loss. As a sophomore the year prior in 2021-22, Lanier finished with three steals while playing 17 scoreless minutes in an 86-52 Ospreys loss.
Over four collegiate seasons, all at North Florida, Lanier has appeared in 104 games with 49 starts, holding career averages of 8.9 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.2 assists while shooting 40.7% from 3 and 86.4% from the free throw line. He’s 71 points shy of becoming a 1,000-point scorer.
Kentucky is also heavily involved with BYU transfer Jaxson Robinson.
Robinson, who played for new Kentucky coach Mark Pope for the last two seasons with the Cougars, declared for the 2024 NBA Draft on April 23 before announcing he would enter the transfer portal on April 27 just days ahead of the May 1 deadline.
Ranked as the No. 44 transfer by 247Sports, Robinson has until May 29 to withdraw from the draft. He is widely projected as a fringe second round pick.
As a senior last season, Robinson was named Big 12 Sixth Man of the Year after averaging a team-high 14.2 points while shooting 35.4% from 3-point range and 90.8% from the free throw line..
The 6-foot-7 guard scored a season-high 28 points in a win over Denver; 25 points on five made 3s in the Cougars’ NCAA Tournament loss to Duquesne, and had 18 points in an upset win at No. 7 Kansas.
Pope’s inaugural 2024 transfer class at Kentucky, which includes No. 21 Brandon Garrison (Oklahoma State), No. 28 Otega Oweh (Oklahoma), No. 45 lLamont Buter (San Diego State), No. 66 Andrew Carr (Wake Forest), No. 81 Amari Williams (Drexel), No. 104 Koby Brea (Dayton), and No. 118 Kerr Kriisa (West Virginia), is ranked No. 5 nationally by 247Sports.