Latest Slidescroller coverage mentioning Chaz Lanier across Basketball.
Nigerian forward Felix Okpara was chosen by the Orlando Magic in the second round of the 2026 NBA Draft before being dealt to the Washington Wizards, bringing a defensive mindset and a unique personal history to the capital.
Selected in the second round, Gillespie brings a blend of scoring, playmaking and defensive versatility to the Spurs, joining a Volunteers lineage that has produced dozens of NBA players over the past two decades.
Felix Okpara was picked 46th overall by the Orlando Magic and traded to the Washington Wizards, joining a Tennessee draft class that made history with multiple selections in back‑to‑back years.
Senior guard Ja'Kobi Gillespie was selected 42nd overall in the 2026 NBA Draft by the San Antonio Spurs, capping a record‑breaking college career that reshaped Tennessee basketball.
Nate Ament is slated to hear his name called in the opening round of the 2026 NBA Draft, joining a lineage of Volunteers who have turned college success into professional opportunities.
Over the past ten years, ten Tennessee basketball players have transitioned to the NBA, with recent draftees continuing the tradition at the 2024 and 2025 drafts.
The NBA draft will descend upon the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, this week, turning the iconic arena into a stage for 60 selections spread across two rounds. The event will be televised nationally by ESPN and streamed on ABC, bringing the drama to millions of viewers. Tennessee's basketball program, under head coach Rick Barnes, has produced 57 all‑time NBA draft picks, and a steady stream of alumni are being selected each year, highlighting the university's growing influence on the professional game.
From the first Vol selected in 1948 to the latest prospects under coach Rick Barnes, Tennessee has consistently contributed talent to the NBA draft.
Tennessee’s basketball program has produced 57 NBA draft picks, with ten emerging under coach Rick Barnes since 2015, highlighting a legacy that continues into the upcoming draft.
Over the past decade, Tennessee under coach Rick Barnes has produced a steady stream of NBA draft picks, highlighted by top‑10 prospect Nate Ament and recent second‑round prospects Ja’Kobi Gillespie and Felix Okpara.
The Volunteers will welcome the Seminoles to Knoxville on December 1, seeking revenge for a 2019 loss while building on a recent surge of strong performances.
The Vols will host Florida State in the ACC‑SEC Challenge, restart home‑and‑home series with Michigan State and Purdue, and open the Players Era Festival against Maryland in Las Vegas. New coach Justin Gainey will test the team against North Carolina State, while recent memories of close battles with Syracuse linger.
Maryland will meet Tennessee in the Players Era Festival, featuring new transfers, key players and a broadcast on ESPN.
Former Tennessee basketball standout Zakai Zeigler is set to host a two‑session youth camp in Knoxville on August 1, 2026, blending his NBA Summer League experience with a commitment to developing the next generation of talent.
A record seven players arrive via the transfer portal, marking a dramatic shift in Tennessee's recruitment strategy and promising a new era of competition.