ESPN’s final Top 100 NBA Draft prospects list for the 2025 draft includes four former Tennessee Volunteers, a notable achievement for Rick Barnes’ program :
🌟 1. Chaz Lanier – #45 ESPN, #38 Mock Draft (Spurs)
ESPN Consensus: 45th in Top 100
Draft Ceiling: Projected mid-second round, around pick 38 to the Spurs
Stats & Strengths: Set school single-season record with 123 made 3s; averaged around 18 ppg, shooting ~39–44% from deep
2. Zakai Zeigler – #99 ESPN, #29 Stats-Only model
NBA Rank: 99 in Top 100; however, advanced metrics place him as high as #29
Impact: Led with 7.4 assists per game, standout in steals & assist rate; despite size concerns, NBA teams value his playmaking
3. Igor Milicic Jr. – #51 ESPN, #70 Givony
Rankings: Consensus #51; 70th on Givony’s board
Role & Ability: 6’10″ stretch-four; averaged 9.4 ppg & 6.7 rpg, a blend of size and shooting potential
4. Jahmai Mashack – #87 ESPN, #98 Givony
Positioning: Consensus #87; Givony places him at #98
Style: Elite perimeter defender; tallied 64 steals, ranking among Tennessee’s all-time single-season leaders
🏀 Why This Matters
Four draft-eligible Vols making the cut—especially with two breakout juniors (Lanier, Zeigler)—speaks volumes about the program’s development pipeline and Barnes’ system.
Lanier and Zeigler carry clear NBA potential; Milicic and Mashack likely secure Summer League or two-way deals, common routes for second-round or undrafted players.
🔮 Outlook for 2025 NBA Draft
Chaz Lanier appears locked into the mid-second round.
Zakai Zeigler could earn a two-way deal or Summer League spot thanks to his elite assist and defensive metrics.
Milicic and Mashack offer potential as role players or developmental talents at the next level.
This quartet’s inclusion highlights Tennessee’s rise as a talent-producing program for the NBA
*Compiled from ESPN’s “Four Tennessee Vols Make Top 100” and RockyTopInsider reports.*
