The next Chaz Lanier could shape the SEC title race with transfer portal landing spot

A year ago when Chaz Lanier transferred to Tennessee from North Florida for his final season of collegiate eligibility, he was the next Dalton Knecht; a high-level shot-maker from the mid-major level that would take the SEC by storm. Only, Knecht and Lanier were fundamentally different players, the former a much better off-dribble creator, and the latter thriving as a movement shooter off the catch. 

Well, now another mid-major volume scorer is setting his sights on the SEC, and while he won’t end up in Knoxville, this knock-down shooter fits the profile of the next Lanier. And which program he picks, could shape the race for the conference title in the sport’s most competitive league. 

Lamar Wilkerson set to visit Auburn, Kentucky, Ole Miss, and Indiana

Sam Houston State transfer Lamar Wilkerson has visits set for three SEC programs, along with Darian DeVries Indiana Hoosiers. The Arkansas native averaged 20.5 points last year with staggering 48/45/82 shooting splits. He could be the best shooter in the transfer portal with a game that can easily translate to high-major basketball. 

Not every mid-major star works in the SEC or the Big Ten, but it was obvious that Lanier would thrive at Tennessee. In his lone season with the Vols, the 6-foot-4 guard shot percent from beyond the arc on 8.2 attempts a game, averaged 18.0 points, and earned second-team All-SEC honors. Wilkerson appears to be on a similar trajectory. 

Like Lanier, it took Wilkerson time to develop his game. However, Wilkerson needed one fewer year at the mid-major level before his breakout. This past season, the 6-foot-5 junior guard was a First-Team All-Conference USA selection after upping his scoring average by 6.7 points and shooting almost 10 percent better from beyond the arc. The only area that Wilkerson struggled was at the rim, shooting just 54%, but that’s easily offset by the value he provides as a movement shooter. 

Wilkerson wasn’t just spotting up – though he averaged an 87th percentile 1.2 points per possession on spot-ups – 16% of his points came on off-ball screens curling off of pin-downs in the mid-range or showing off his quick release with the little space he could create with a flare or elevator screen. 

He’s a big-time shooter and specifically adding a player like that to Auburn or Kentucky (my apologies to Chris Beard and Ole Miss), would significantly shift the balance of power in the SEC. 

Bruce Pearl is looking to overhaul his roster after his second Final Four appearance at Auburn. UCF transfer Keyshawn Hall could be an offensive fulcrum as an oversized playmaker, but much of the Tigers’ offseason hinges on Tahaad Pettiford and Chad Baker-Mazara. Pettiford is testing the NBA Draft waters after an electric freshman season off the bench and Baker-Mazara is weighing another collegiate season at 26-year-old. Either way, an elite shooter will fit perfectly. 

Mark Pope has much more in place at Kentucky with Otega Oweh returning for his final year of eligibility after emerging as the Wildcats’ primary scorer. Pope has already added to his core in the portal Kam Williams, Jaland Lowe, Mouhamed Dioubate, and former five-star center Jayden Quaintance, but Wilkerson would be the ideal Koby Brea replacement on the wing and could value Kentucky back to the top of the conference and into the national championship conversation.