Two Vols have been selected in the 2025 NBA Draft

AtoZ Sports

Lucas Panzica discusses the two Tennessee Volunteers that were selected in this year's 2025 NBA draft, Chaz Lanier by the Detroit Pistons, and Jahmai Mashack by the Memphis Grizzlies

Transcript

00:00The NBA draft wrapped up last week in Brooklyn and two Tennessee Vols heard their names called

00:05and I think one in particular will be a huge help to Tennessee's program moving forward.

00:13Hey guys, Lucas Panzeke here from 104.5 The Zone and A to Z Sports. So the NBA draft has come and

00:19gone. Tennessee did not have a first round pick like they did last year with Dalton Connect,

00:23but they had two names called in the second round. One that was highly expected and one

00:28was a surprise to some folks out there. Chaz Lanier was taken 37th overall, the seventh pick

00:35in the second round for the Detroit Pistons and Tennessee defensive mastermind. Jemai Mayshak

00:41was taken with the final pick of the NBA draft going at number 59 and he will start his NBA career

00:49with the Memphis Grizzlies. So Mayshak gets an opportunity to stay in state for his pro career.

00:56Starting with Chaz Lanier, I think this is massive for Tennessee's program because Chaz Lanier came

01:01to Tennessee from a mid-major program in North Florida and obviously one of the first questions

01:07were how will he fill the shoes of Dalton Connect who comes over from Northern Colorado is an absolute

01:13supernova for Tennessee. One of the best in the country, SEC player of the year, top 15 pick to

01:19the Los Angeles Lakers. Chaz Lanier comes to Tennessee and didn't fill those shoes because

01:24not many people can, but was still a great player for Tennessee. Was one of the best three-point

01:29shooters in the country, helping the Vols to yet another elite eight appearance. He goes to Detroit

01:35and he proves that Tennessee can still be a destination for those transfer players looking

01:40for a landing spot and you don't have to be Dalton Connect to find your role within this team and make

01:47an impact. Chaz Lanier did exactly that and he heads up to Detroit that could use some spot-up

01:52shooting. The Detroit Pistons have turned things around. One of the worst teams in the NBA two

01:57years ago to a playoff team this past season. About a mid-table team in the NBA as far as three-point

02:02shooting is concerned and obviously Chaz Lanier brings that in spades. He joins up with some

02:08young players that surround a star in Cade Cunningham and another VFL in Tobias Harris. Obviously Harris

02:15was a one-and-done in the latter part of the Bruce Pearl era at Tennessee. He has had a fantastic NBA

02:21career. So if Tennessee fans are looking for an NBA team to cheer on, I think you might have one

02:26in the Detroit Pistons. That's Tobias Harris and Chaz Lanier are up there in Detroit. Not to mention

02:32Zakai Ziegler picked up by the Pistons for the Summer League. Later on this year, he'll be playing

02:39for Detroit. So I think it's a pretty easy answer if you're a Tennessee fan looking for that NBA team

02:44to root for. I don't know. Some of you may still be cheering for the Los Angeles Lakers for Dalton

02:49Connect and here's to a year two breakout for Connect in his NBA career. And then there's Jemai

02:54Meshack who ends up in Memphis and immediately people start talking about the ceiling of Jemai

02:59Meshack and that would be Tony Allen, one of the best perimeter defenders in the history of the NBA

03:05that didn't have much of an offensive output in his NBA career, but a bona fide star on defense and

03:11a Memphis legend. And Memphis has made a habit of drafting Tennessee players in recent years.

03:16You think back to Jarnell Stokes, a Memphis native who was drafted by the Grizz, had a couple of good

03:22years before going overseas. Kennedy Chandler, who also went back to his hometown to play for the

03:27Grizzlies, never really found his footing. And then of course, Eve Ponds, another defensive

03:32specialist who had a very short stint after landing in Memphis and is now playing in Europe,

03:37where of course he is from in France. Now Jemai Meshack is that next Tennessee player hoping to take

03:42advantage of that opportunity, an elite athlete, one of the best defenders in all of basketball,

03:48college or pro. But as was the question throughout his time at Tennessee, can he develop a consistent

03:54enough shot and offensive output to make him a player that will make an NBA roster? That remains

04:01to be seen, but this is only positive momentum for Rick Barnes in Tennessee men's basketball.

04:06Seeing players hear their names called in the NBA draft and doing it after getting to Tennessee

04:12through various different paths. Jemai Meshack, a rare kind of player these days, four-star recruit,

04:18commits to Tennessee, enrolls at Tennessee, and stays at Tennessee for all four years. And then of course,

04:24Chaz Lanier, a Nashville guy originally, but a mid-major transfer product that came to Tennessee

04:30made his impact. Rick Barnes has created a nice little pipeline to the NBA. Still would love for

04:36one of those guys to really find a foothold as a bona fide star in the NBA. But until then,

04:43things are going pretty good for Tennessee men's basketball. So congratulations to both Chaz Lanier

04:47and Jemai Meshack for getting their opportunity at the next level.

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