![College basketball rankings: Tennessee lands North Florida transfer Chaz Lanier, moves up in Top 25 And 1 College basketball rankings: Tennessee lands North Florida transfer Chaz Lanier, moves up in Top 25 And 1](https://i1.wp.com/sportshub.cbsistatic.com/i/2024/05/25/c91b0280-2c4b-4181-a8cb-511fecb6094c/chazlaniertop25and1.jpg?w=1200&resize=1200,0&ssl=1)
I’m aware that players jumping from one school to the next every offseason drives some coaches and fans crazy. I get it. But there really are some wonderful stories coming out of the transfer portal, provided you’re not too jaded to recognize and appreciate them. The latest involves Chaz Lanier, a 6-foot-4 guard from Nashville who spent the past four years playing at North Florida.
Question: Do you think guys from Nashville grow up dreaming of playing at North Florida? Answer: Of course not.
In other words, Lanier never left his home state because he wanted to play in the ASUN instead of the SEC. Rather, he left his home state because nobody connected to an SEC school believed he was an SEC-caliber player coming out of high school.
So he chose North Florida.
As a fourth-year player, Lanier averaged 19.7 points and 4.8 rebounds for the Ospreys this past season while making 44.0% of the 7.5 3-pointers he attempted per game. Suddenly, SEC schools were interested — including Kentucky and Tennessee. On Friday, two days after visiting UT, Lanier announced his decision. He picked the Vols and explained it to ESPN’s Jonathan Givony.
“I was born and raised in Nashville, Tennessee,” Lanier said. “I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to come back to my home state and put on for my city and family. My whole family will be at every game next year, lord willing.”
How can you not smile about that?
A young man from Nashville who always dreamed of playing for his home-state university, but wasn’t given the chance out of high school, spent the past four years working hard at a lower level, and his reward for that is a final season of playing college basketball in front of friends and family for his home-state university that’s up to No. 14 in Version 25 of the 2024-24 CBS Sports Top 25 And 1 college basketball rankings.
Again, how can you not smile about that?
Like I’ve said and written many times over the years, big-picture, I’m not certain this much player-movement annually is actually good for the sport. So when folks make that argument, I understand the point they’re making. But I’ve always believed that what’s fair to student-athletes should be considered above anything and everything else. So until universities make student-athletes employees and sign them to binding contracts, I’ll forever believe they should be allowed to transfer from one school to the next and play the following season the same way coaches have been moving from one school to the next and coaching the following season for decades and decades and decades. And if the student-athletes get to transfer back to their home states and play immediately in front of friends and families for nationally ranked teams in ways that fulfill dreams, well, that’s even better.
Top 25 And 1 rankings
Biggest Movers
Rk |
Teams |
Chg |
Rcrd |
|
---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
Kansas |
This ranking is based on Bill Self’s Jayhawks returning three of the top six scorers – specifically Hunter Dickinson, KJ Adams and Dajuan Harris – from a team that secured a No. 4 seed in the 2024 NCAA Tournament. The additions of AJ Storr (Wisconsin), Rylan Griffen (Alabama) and Zeke Mayo (South Dakota State) from the transfer portal, plus two top-50 high school prospects, will give Kansas the type of depth it lacked during this past season that was derailed by Kevin McCullar’s lack of availability. | — | 23-11 |
2 |
Houston |
This ranking is based on Kelvin Sampson’s Cougars returning eight of the top 10 scorers – everybody besides Jamal Shead and Damian Dunn – from a team that won the Big 12 by two games and earned a No. 1 seed in the 2024 NCAA Tournament. A backcourt of LJ Cryer, Emanuel Sharp and Oklahoma transfer Milos Uzan should make the Cougars among the favorites in the Big 12. | — | 32-5 |
3 |
N. Carolina |
This ranking is based on Hubert Davis’ Tar Heels returning five of the top eight scorers – specifically RJ Davis, Elliot Cadeau, Seth Trimble, Jae’Lyn Withers and Jalen Washington – from a team that won the ACC regular-season title and secured a No. 1 seed in the 2024 NCAA Tournament. UNC is also adding a top-10 recruiting class, highlighted by five-star prospects Ian Jackson and Drake Powell — plus Belmont transfer Cade Tyson and Vanderbilt transfer Ven-Allen Lubin. That should give the program a chance to make a 22nd appearance in the Final Four. | — | 29-8 |
4 |
UConn |
This ranking is based on Dan Hurley’s Huskies returning five of the top nine scorers – specifically Alex Karaban, Hassan Diarra, Samson Johnson, Solomon Ball and Jaylin Stewart – from a team that won the 2024 NCAA Tournament. Transfers Aidan Mahaney (Saint Mary’s) and Tarris Reed (Michigan), plus five-star freshman Liam McNeely, are among the newcomers expected to keep UConn in contention for a third straight national championship. | — | 37-3 |
5 |
Iowa St. |
This ranking is based on TJ Otzelberger’s Cyclones returning the top four scorers from a team that won 29 games and earned a No. 2 seed in the 2024 NCAA Tournament. Both Tamin Lipsey and Keshon Gilbert could compete for Big 12 Player of the Year honors and position Iowa State to maybe make what would be the program’s first trip to the Final Four since 1944. | — | 29-8 |
6 |
Baylor |
This ranking is based on Scott Drew’s Bears returning three of the top seven scorers – specifically Langston Love, Jayden Nunn and Josh Ojianwuna – from a team that secured a No. 3 seed in the 2024 NCAA Tournament. The addition of a top-10 recruiting class headlined by Duke transfer Jeremy Roach, Miami transfer Norchad Omier, Cal transfer Jalen Celestine and five-star wing VJ Edgecombe should help offset the departures and have Baylor in a sixth straight NCAA Tournament. | — | 24-11 |
7 |
Gonzaga |
This ranking is based on Mark Few’s Zags returning every rotation piece besides Anton Watson from a team that advanced to the Sweet 16 of the 2024 NCAA Tournament. Graham Ike should be the preseason WCC Player of the Year and the main reason Gonzaga makes the NCAA Tournament next March for the 26th straight time. | — | 27-8 |
8 |
Duke |
This ranking is based on Jon Scheyer’s Blue Devils returning two of the top six scorers — specifically Caleb Foster and Tyrese Proctor — from a team that secured a No. 4 seed in the 2024 NCAA Tournament. Duke also has the sport’s top-ranked recruiting class headlined by Syracuse transfer Maliq Brown, Purdue transfer Mason Gillis, Tulane transfer Sion James and five-star phenom Cooper Flagg, the last of whom is the consensus No. 1 prospect in the Class of 2024 and projected No. 1 pick of the 2025 NBA Draft. | — | 27-9 |
9 |
Alabama |
This ranking is based on Nate Oats’ Crimson Tide returning two of the top five scorers — specifically Grant Nelson and Latrell Wrightsell — from a team that advanced to the 2024 Final Four. The addition of top-35 freshmen Derrion Reed and Labaron Philon – plus transfers Clifford Omoruyi (Rutgers), Houston Mallette (Pepperdine), Chris Youngblood (USF) and Aden Holloway (Auburn) – should keep Alabama in the national conversation even if Mark Sears remains in the 2024 NBA Draft, which is the current projection here. | — | 25-12 |
10 |
Auburn |
This ranking is based on Bruce Pearl’s Tigers returning three of the top five scorers – specifically Johni Broome, Chad Baker-Mazara and Denver Jones – from a team that secured a No. 4 seed in the 2024 NCAA Tournament. The addition of five-star freshman Tahaad Pettiford and Furman transfer JP Pegues should have Auburn in contention to maybe make a second Final Four. | — | 27-8 |
11 |
Texas A&M |
This ranking is based on Buzz Williams’ Aggies returning four of the top five scorers – everybody except Tyrece Radford – from a team that advanced to the second round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament. Wade Taylor could enter the season as the favorite to win SEC Player of the Year for the second straight season, and the addition of SMU transfer Zhuric Phelps should have Texas A&M in a third straight NCAA Tournament. | — | 21-15 |
12 |
Purdue |
This ranking is based on Matt Painter’s Boilermakers returning five of the top eight scorers – specifically Braden Smith, Fletcher Loyer, Trey Kaufman-Renn, Myles Colvin and Camden Heide – from a team that won the Big Ten regular-season title and advanced to the championship game of the 2024 NCAA Tournament. The Boilermakers have finished in the top 25 at KenPom.com nine straight years, and there’s no reason to think that streak won’t continue next season even without two-time National Player of the Year Zach Edey. | — | 34-5 |
13 |
Arizona |
This ranking is based on Tommy Lloyd’s Wildcats returning four of the top eight scorers — specifically Caleb Love, Jaden Bradley, KJ Lewis and Motiejus Krivas — from a team that won the Pac-12 regular-season title and secured a No. 2 seed in the 2024 NCAA Tournament. Arizona’s top-five recruiting class headlined by Oakland transfer Trey Townsend, Tennessee transfer Tobe Awaka, Campbell transfer Anthony Dell’Orso and top-40 high school prospects Joson Sanon, Carter Bryant and Jarari Phillips should help make the program’s transition to the Big 12 go relatively smoothly. | — | 27-9 |
14 |
Tennessee |
This ranking is based on Rick Barnes’ Volunteers returning two of the top five scorers — specifically Zakai Zeigler and Jordan Gainey — from a team that won the SEC regular-season title and secured a No. 2 seed in the 2024 NCAA Tournament. The departures of Dalton Knecht, Jonas Aidoo and Josiah-Jordan James are huge, but Tennessee should still easily make the NCAA Tournament for the fifth straight year thanks in part to the additions of North Florida transfer Chaz Lanier, Hofstra transfer Darlinstone Dubar, Ohio State transfer Felix Okpara and Charlotte transfer Igor Milicic Jr. | 2 | 27-9 |
15 |
Ohio St. |
This ranking is based on Jake Diebler’s Buckeyes returning two of the top seven scorers – specifically Bruce Thornton and Devin Royal – from a team that missed the NCAA Tournament but closed with an 8-3 record after Diebler replaced Chris Holtmann in February. The additions of South Carolina transfer Meechie Johnson, Kentucky transfer Aaron Bradshaw, San Diego State transfer Micah Parrish and Duke transfer Sean Stewart should help Ohio State be relevant again in Diebler’s first full season. | 1 | 22-14 |
16 |
Marquette |
This ranking is based on Shaka Smart’s Golden Eagles returning every rotation player besides Tyler Kolek and Oso Ighodaro from a team that secured a No. 2 seed in the 2024 NCAA Tournament. Kam Jones’ announcement that he’ll return means Marquette will have a fourth-year guard who just averaged 17.2 points per game to build around. | 1 | 27-10 |
17 |
Indiana |
This ranking is based on Mike Woodson’s Hoosiers returning three of the top four scorers — specifically Malik Reneau, Mackenzie Mgbako and Trey Galloway — from a team that finished tied for sixth in the Big Ten. The additions of Myles Rice (Washington State), Oumar Ballo (Arizona), Kanaan Carlyle (Stanford) and Luke Goode (Illinois) from the transfer portal means Indiana is adding four experienced pieces, three of whom just spent a season starting in the Pac-12. | — | 19-14 |
18 |
UCLA |
This ranking is based on Mick Cronin’s Bruins returning four of the top five scorers – everybody except Adem Bona – from a team that finished fifth in the Pac-12. The additions of Skyy Clark (Louisville), Kobe Johnson (USC), Dominick Harris (Loyola Marymount), Eric Dailey Jr. (Oklahoma State), Tyler Bilodeau (Oregon State) and William Kyle III (South Dakota State) from the transfer portal, and top-35 point guard Trent Perry from the Class of 2024, suggests UCLA should have a nice bounceback season. | — | 16-17 |
19 |
Creighton |
This ranking is based on Greg McDermott’s Bluejays returning three of the top six scorers – Ryan Kalkbrenner, Steven Ashworth and Mason Miller — from a team that advanced to the Sweet 16 of the 2024 NCAA Tournament. The addition of Arizona State transfer Jamiya Neal and Texas Tech transfer Pop Isaacs provides two experienced double-digit scorers to help offset the losses of Baylor Scheierman and Trey Alexander. | — | 25-10 |
20 |
Florida |
This ranking is based on Todd Golden’s Gators returning six of the top nine scorers – everybody besides Zyon Pullin, Tyrese Samuel and Riley Kugel – from a team that secured a No. 7 seed in the 2024 NCAA Tournament. The transfer-portal additions of Alijah Martin (FAU) and Sam Alexis (Chattanooga) give Florida a pair of productive mid-major pieces, the former of whom helped Florida Atlantic make the 2023 Final Four. | — | 24-12 |
21 |
Texas |
This ranking is based on Rodney Terry’s Longhorns returning two of the top six scorers – specifically Kadin Shedrick and Chendall Weaver – from a team that secured a No. 7 seed in the 2024 NCAA Tournament. A top-25 recruiting class headlined by five-star guard Tre Johnson, Arkansas transfer Tramon Mark and Oregon State transfer Jordan Pope should be enough to get Texas to what would be a fifth straight NCAA Tournament. | — | 21-13 |
22 |
Rutgers |
This ranking is based on Steve Pikiell’s Scarlet Knights only returning one double-digit scorer (Jeremiah Williams) from a team that finished below .500. But the enrollment of five-star prospects Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper — plus NEC Player of the Year Jordan Derkack and Eastern Michigan transfer Tyson Acuff — will give Rutgers enough talent to start the season with a number beside its name. | — | 15-17 |
23 |
Arkansas |
This ranking is based on John Calipari’s Razorbacks returning zero players from a team that finished 16-17 under Eric Musselman. Arkansas is still building but already done enough to crack these rankings by securing commitments from transfers Johnell Davis (FAU), Jonas Aidoo (Tennessee), Adou Thiero (Kentucky) and Zvonimir Ivisic (Kentucky) and heralded freshmen Boogie Fland, Karter Knox and Billy Richmond. | — | 16-17 |
24 |
Xavier |
This ranking is based on Sean Miller’s Musketeers returning three of the top seven scorers – specifically Dayvion McKnight, Trey Green and Dailyn Swain – from a team that finished tied for eighth in the Big East. The return of Zach Freemantle and Jerome Hunter from injuries, plus the enrollment of transfers Dante Maddox (Toledo), Ryan Conwell (Indiana State), John Hugley (Oklahoma), Marcus Foster (Furman) and Cam Fletcher (Florida State) should have Xavier in contention to improve as much as anybody from one season to the next. | — | 16-18 |
25 |
Cincinnati |
This ranking is based on Wes Miller’s Bearcats returning five of the top seven scorers — specifically Dan Skillings Jr., Simas Lukosius, Day Day Thomas, Jizzle James and Aziz Bandaogo — from a team that finished 39th at KenPom.com. That’s the type of roster-retention, when combined with the addition of multiple impactful transfers, most notably former five-star recruit Dillon Mitchell, that should have Cincinnati back in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2019. | — | 22-15 |
26 |
Providence |
This ranking is based on Kim English’s Friars four of the top seven scorers — specifically Bryce Hopkins, Jaden Pierre, Corey Floyd and Rich Barron — from a team that finished tied for sixth in the Big East. Bensley Joseph (Miami), Jabri Abdur-Rahim (Georgia), Christ Essandoko (Saint Joseph’s) and Wesley Cardet Jr. (Chicago State) are three incoming transfers who project as likely starters at Providence. | — | 21-14 |