NBA Comparison: Patty Mills / Damon Stoudamire

Strengths: Tanner is a diminutive but highly effective and unique lead guard who impacts winning with his competitiveness, speed, and feel for the game … A true floor general who controls tempo and organizes the offense, posting an elite 5.1-to-1.9 assist-to-turnover ratio while consistently making quick, correct reads … Extremely fast with the ball, featuring a tight crossover, explosive first step, and the ability to blow by defenders in isolation or off set plays, creating constant downhill pressure … Very good athlete with great leaping ability, allowing him to play bigger than his size and finish above the rim in traffic … Creative passer who can deliver with either hand, excels in drive-and-dish situations, and thrives in pick-and-roll … Highly productive scorer (19.5 PPG) with strong efficiency (48.5% FG, 36.8% 3PT, 85.3% FT), showing the ability to knock down threes at solid volume (1.7–4.5), score off the dribble, and use floaters and mid-range touch … Plays at a fast pace in transition, is a blur in the open floor, and brings a free-flowing style that keeps defenses off balance … Bouncy, explosive athlete who can elevate for highlight finishes despite size … Defensively, he is extremely disruptive (2.4 SPG), showing elite anticipation, quick hands, and the ability to jump passing lanes … Rebounds well for his size (3.6 RPG) and consistently fills the stat sheet … High-level competitor with strong energy, toughness, and leadership, thriving in big moments with a mature, cerebral approach …

Weaknesses: Tanner’s size is the biggest hurdle to his NBA projection, as he stands just 6’0” with a light frame, putting him at a disadvantage in a league that has moved away from undersized guards … Will likely be targeted defensively, especially in switch-heavy schemes, where bigger players can shoot over him, take him into the post, or exploit mismatches … Lack of strength compounds these concerns, making it difficult to consistently fight through screens or hold position … While a good shooter, he is not yet elite from three, and continued improvement in consistency and volume will be important … Finishing inside, while crafty, may be challenged by NBA length and rim protection … Relies heavily on speed and quickness, which could be neutralized against longer, more athletic defenders at the next level … Despite his impressive explosiveness and leaping ability, players at his size often struggle to fully translate those athletic tools against NBA size and length, where finishing windows shrink and vertical advantages are less pronounced …

Outlook: Tanner projects as a future backup point guard at the NBA level who can provide pace, energy, and shot-making off the bench … Despite his size limitations, his production, efficiency, and competitiveness could entice teams to take a chance on him in the late first round … By all accounts an absolutely incredible kid, he has impressed everyone he comes across with his great attitude and uplifting energy, traits that further strengthen his case to stick long-term … If his shooting continues to improve and he proves capable of holding his own defensively, he has the makeup to outperform his draft position …

Notes: Tyler Tanner measured 5′ 10.75” barefoot, 166.8 lbs, 6′ 4.25” wingspan, 7′ 9.00” standing reach, 32.0 no step vertical, and 39.0 max vertical at the 2026 NBA Draft Combine. … Born February 1, 2006 … 2025–26: 36 GP, 33.5 MPG, 19.5 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 5.1 APG, 2.4 SPG, 0.3 BPG, 1.9 TOPG, 48.5% FG, 36.8% 3PT, 85.3% FT … 2024–25: 33 GP, 20.5 MPG, 5.7 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 1.9 APG, 1.7 SPG, 0.2 BPG, 0.5 TOPG, 46.5% FG, 26.6% 3PT, 75.0% FT … Earned 2026 All-SEC First Team, All-Defensive Team, All-America Honorable Mention, NABC All-District First Team, and SEC All-Tournament Team honors … Lute Olson Award Finalist … Set Vanderbilt freshman steals record (55) and became the only player in college basketball since at least 1996–97 with 50+ assists, 50+ steals, and fewer than 15 turnovers … Career-high 37 points vs Oklahoma … Two-time Gatorade Tennessee Player of the Year and 2024 TSSAA Division II-AA Mr. Basketball at Brentwood Academy … Comes from an athletic family, with both parents playing college basketball at Rice and his father holding the Southwest Conference career steals record …

Aran Smith 4/18/26