Exciting news emerges from Duke Basketball as they officially secure the signing of seasoned breakout scoring sensation, Chaz Lanier, from North Florida.
Lanier’s remarkable rise to prominence was evident during his outstanding campaign at North Florida this past season, where he substantially increased his scoring average by an impressive 15 points to 19.7 per game. Evidently seeking a larger platform, the 6-foot-4, 200-pound guard made headlines by declaring for the NBA Draft in mid-March, subsequently entering the transfer portal last week. Now, Duke Basketball has turned their attention to Lanier, as confirmed by CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein.
In a late Thursday night announcement, Rothstein revealed via social media that Lanier, aged 22, who spent three seasons primarily as a reserve at North Florida before earning All-Atlantic Sun First Team honors in 2023-24, has attracted interest from 16 programs.
Among these programs are the prestigious Blue Devils, alongside other esteemed institutions such as BYU, Cincinnati, and Kentucky, among others.
In addition to his stellar scoring abilities, Lanier also showcased versatility on the court, contributing 4.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 0.9 steals per game for the Ospreys, who finished the season with a 16-16 record and secured the fifth spot in the A-Sun standings.
Chaz Lanier has an awesome story. 5’6 at the beginning of high school, had to work his way up from the freshman team to JV, then Varsity. Didn’t play AAU. Held two D1 offers—North Florida and Campbell.
Heads to North Florida, admits he wasn’t ready to play as a freshman, “picked… pic.twitter.com/zNuIs6soRK
— League Him (@League_Him) April 25, 2024
Notably, Lanier’s proficiency as a sharpshooter, particularly from beyond the arc, is a standout feature of his game. During his fourth year at North Florida, Lanier boasted an impressive 44.0 percent shooting accuracy from downtown on a remarkable average of 9.0 attempts per game. Furthermore, his stellar performance at the free-throw line, with an 88.0 shooting percentage, underscores his prowess as a well-rounded offensive threat.
Lanier’s journey is a testament to his resilience and determination. Despite starting at just 5’6″ in high school, he persevered and worked his way up from the freshman team to the varsity squad. His journey is a true embodiment of dedication and hard work, ultimately leading to him holding offers from Division I programs such as North Florida and Campbell.
Leave a Reply