Chaz Lanier, J.P. Estrella battling foot injuries for Tennessee basketball in preseason

Chaz Lanier is dealing with a foot injury as Tennessee basketball is less than a month away from its season opener.

The heralded transfer from North Florida has “been going in and out” of practice due an “inflamed something,” coach Rick Barnes said Thursday.

“(We are) bringing him back slowly,” Barnes said.

Lanier averaged 19.7 points and shot 44.4% on 3-pointers with the Ospreys.

The 6-foot-4, 199-pound Lanier was one of the most coveted players in the transfer portal. The Nashville native picked the Vols over Kentucky and BYU after visiting all three schools in succession in late May.

What Rick Barnes has seen from Chaz Lanier as Tennessee basketball transfer

Lanier was valued in the portal for his offensive prowess and he has shown that at Tennessee. Barnes said Lanier is playing his best basketball when he “doesn’t mess with the ball very much” and gets quickly to his shot.

“He is going to have to continue to do what he does but do it at a much quicker pace,” Barnes said.

Lanier was part of a four-man transfer class for Tennessee. The Vols also landed Hofstra guard Darlinstone Dubar, Charlotte forward Igor Milicic Jr., and Ohio State forward Felix Okpara.

Lanier is part of a Tennessee backcourt that includes senior standouts Zakai Zeigler and Jahmai Mashack. The Vols also have senior guard Jordan Gainey, sophomore Cameron Carr and freshman Bishop Boswell.

“It has been a really … unique experience for him playing against a group of guys that bring the energy and effort that Jahmai and Zakai bring,” Barnes said. “Jordan Gainey has been with it, too. The standard that those guys play with every day has probably been as big an experience as anything he has gone through.”

J.P. Estrella might not be ready for season opener, Rick Barnes says

Forward J.P. Estrella also continues to deal with a foot injury. Barnes is not sure that the sophomore will be ready for the season opener against Gardner-Webb on Nov. 4 at Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center.

Barnes said Estrella continues to do more each day, but his path to return to full action has had setbacks.

“It just depends on how much he progresses over these next couple weeks,” Barnes said when asked if Estrella would be ready for UT’s first game.

The 6-foot-11, 241-pound Estrella played in 25 games and averaged 5.0 minutes per game as a freshman.

PRACTICES: Igor Milicic Jr., Felix Okpara rising as Tennessee basketball opens preseason practices

Tennessee opens Barnes’ 10th season with a charity exhibition against Indiana at Thompson-Boling Arena on Oct. 27 (3 p.m. ET, SEC Network+).

Mike Wilson covers University of Tennessee athletics. Email him at michael.wilson@knoxnews.com and follow him on Twitter @ByMikeWilson. If you enjoy Mike’s coverage, consider a digital subscription that will allow you access to all of it.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Chaz Lanier injury update: Tennessee basketball transfer has foot issue