Tyler Tanner has a big decision to make.
The Vanderbilt basketball sophomore established himself as a legitimate 2026 NBA Draft prospect this season while leading the Commodores to a 27-9 record — their most wins since 1993 — and the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Will the guard forgo his final two years of college eligibility, or will he return to Vanderbilt for the 2026-27 season?
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Underclassmen looking to enter the draft must declare no later than 60 days before the draft, and have until 10 days after the end of the NBA draft combine to withdraw. The draft date has yet to be announced but will be after the NBA Finals in late June, meaning players would have to declare by late April. The combine will take place May 10-17 in Chicago.
If Tanner declared for the draft and participated in the combine, he would have until May 27 to decide whether to return to school or remain in the draft. Here are the pros and cons.
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Tyler Tanner, Duke Miles lead Vanderbilt basketball vs Nebraska in March Madness
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA – MARCH 21: Tyler Tanner #3 of the Vanderbilt Commodores dunks the ball against the Nebraska Cornhuskers during the first half in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Paycom Center on March 21, 2026 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
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Tyler Tanner, Duke Miles lead Vanderbilt basketball vs Nebraska in March Madness
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA – MARCH 21: Tyler Tanner #3 of the Vanderbilt Commodores dunks the ball against the Nebraska Cornhuskers during the first half in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Paycom Center on March 21, 2026 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
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Tyler Tanner, Duke Miles lead Vanderbilt basketball vs Nebraska in March Madness
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA – MARCH 21: Tyler Tanner #3 of the Vanderbilt Commodores dunks the ball against the Nebraska Cornhuskers during the first half in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Paycom Center on March 21, 2026 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
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Tyler Tanner, Duke Miles lead Vanderbilt basketball vs Nebraska in March Madness
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA – MARCH 21: Tyler Tanner #3 of the Vanderbilt Commodores dunks the ball against the Nebraska Cornhuskers during the first half in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Paycom Center on March 21, 2026 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
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Tyler Tanner, Duke Miles lead Vanderbilt basketball vs Nebraska in March Madness
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA – MARCH 21: AK Okereke #10 of the Vanderbilt Commodores attempts a three point basket against the Nebraska Cornhuskers during the first half in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Paycom Center on March 21, 2026 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
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Tyler Tanner, Duke Miles lead Vanderbilt basketball vs Nebraska in March Madness
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA – MARCH 21: Tyler Tanner #3 of the Vanderbilt Commodores dribbles against Sam Hoiberg #1 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers during the first half in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Paycom Center on March 21, 2026 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
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Tyler Tanner, Duke Miles lead Vanderbilt basketball vs Nebraska in March Madness
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA – MARCH 21: Tyler Tanner #3 of the Vanderbilt Commodores dribbles past Cale Jacobsen #31 and Braden Frager #5 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers during the first half in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Paycom Center on March 21, 2026 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
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Tyler Tanner, Duke Miles lead Vanderbilt basketball vs Nebraska in March Madness
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA – MARCH 21: Devin McGlockton #99 of the Vanderbilt Commodores is helped to his feet by Duke Miles #2 during the first half against the Nebraska Cornhuskers in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Paycom Center on March 21, 2026 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
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Tyler Tanner, Duke Miles lead Vanderbilt basketball vs Nebraska in March Madness
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA – MARCH 21: Devin McGlockton #99 of the Vanderbilt Commodores reacts after being knocked down by Berke Buyuktuncel #9 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers during the first half in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Paycom Center on March 21, 2026 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
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Tyler Tanner, Duke Miles lead Vanderbilt basketball vs Nebraska in March Madness
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA – MARCH 21: Tyler Tanner #3 of the Vanderbilt Commodores dribbles against the Nebraska Cornhuskers during the first half in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Paycom Center on March 21, 2026 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
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Tyler Tanner, Duke Miles lead Vanderbilt basketball vs Nebraska in March Madness
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA – MARCH 21: Devin McGlockton #99 of the Vanderbilt Commodores is fouled by Cale Jacobsen #31 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers during the first half in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Paycom Center on March 21, 2026 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
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Tyler Tanner, Duke Miles lead Vanderbilt basketball vs Nebraska in March Madness
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA – MARCH 21: Tyler Nickel #5 of the Vanderbilt Commodores dribbles the ball past Cale Jacobsen #31 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers during the first half in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Paycom Center on March 21, 2026 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
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Tyler Tanner, Duke Miles lead Vanderbilt basketball vs Nebraska in March Madness
Mar 21, 2026; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Vanderbilt Commodores fans cheer during the first half against the Nebraska Cornhuskers in a second round game of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
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Tyler Tanner, Duke Miles lead Vanderbilt basketball vs Nebraska in March Madness
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA – MARCH 21: Assistant coach Nate Loenser gestures during a timeout in the first half against the Vanderbilt Commodores in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Paycom Center on March 21, 2026 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
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Tyler Tanner, Duke Miles lead Vanderbilt basketball vs Nebraska in March Madness
Mar 21, 2026; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; A Vanderbilt Commodores band member plays prior to a game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers in a second round game of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
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Tyler Tanner, Duke Miles lead Vanderbilt basketball vs Nebraska in March Madness
Mar 21, 2026; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; A Vanderbilt Commodores band member plays prior to a game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers in a second round game of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
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Tyler Tanner, Duke Miles lead Vanderbilt basketball vs Nebraska in March Madness
Mar 21, 2026; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; The Nebraska Cornhuskers mascot cheers during the first half against the Vanderbilt Commodores in a second round game of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
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Tyler Tanner, Duke Miles lead Vanderbilt basketball vs Nebraska in March Madness
Mar 21, 2026; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers guard Sam Hoiberg (1) drives to the hoop past Vanderbilt Commodores guard Duke Miles (2) during the first half of a second round game of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
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Tyler Tanner, Duke Miles lead Vanderbilt basketball vs Nebraska in March Madness
Mar 21, 2026; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Vanderbilt Commodores forward Jalen Washington (13) drives to the hoop past Nebraska Cornhuskers forward Braden Frager (5) during the first half of a second round game of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
MORE: Tyler Tanner was this close to the greatest shot in March Madness history
Why Tyler Tanner should go pro
Tanner started all 36 games of his sophomore season, averaging 19.5 points, 5.1 assists, 3.6 rebounds and 2.4 steals in 33.5 minutes. He shot 48.5% from the field, 36.8% from 3-point range and 85.3% from the free-throw line. He was named first-team All-SEC and also to the conference All-Defensive Team.
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Despite being listed at 6-foot, 175 pounds, Tanner’s overall athleticism figures to be a draw for NBA scouts. He had 16 dunks this season, more than taller guard prospects like Kansas’ Darryn Peterson (6-6), Houston’s Kingston Flemings (6-4) and Arkansas’s Darius Acuff Jr. (6-3). He’s quick and skilled enough to score efficiently from anywhere on the court, and is also efficient as a ball handler with an assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.7 to 1.
Tanner also excelled against strong competition — he averaged 21.5 points in SEC play and had 26 and 27 points in the Commodores’ two March Madness games. If he were 3 inches taller, he’d probably be a candidate to go in the top 10 of the draft. As it stands, though, he still could go in the first round.
Why Tyler Tanner should return to Vanderbilt basketball
Despite Tanner’s talent, basketball IQ and production, his size will remain a stumbling block for many NBA teams. He’ll have to overcome preconceptions about small guards, as just 18 current players measure 6-0 or shorter and only 16 weigh 175 pounds or less. While he might not get any taller, he could benefit from another year in college by adding more strength, which might give him a better chance of being an effective defender in the pros.
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This season also was Tanner’s first as a starter and offensive focal point. As a freshman, he came off the bench every game and averaged just 5.7 points in 20.5 minutes. The leap he took as a sophomore indicates he’s not a finished product and might be able to raise his stock with a strong junior season, one that could include lucrative NIL money and a team that could go even further into March.
The 2026 draft is also extremely deep for point guards — eight of the top 18 prospects, per CBS Sports, are point guards — meaning Tanner might be drafted higher if he waited another year.
Tyler Tanner NBA draft projections
Tanner is currently considered a borderline first-rounder or early second-round pick by most analysts. CBS lists him as the No. 31 prospect in the draft.
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ESPN published a mock draft on March 11, with Tanner being selected in the second round, No. 32 overall, by the New York Knicks. USA Today’s Bryan Kalbrosky had Tanner going in the first round, No. 28 overall, to the Minnesota Timberwolves in his March 13 mock draft.
Jacob Shames can be reached by email at jshames@gannett.com and on X/Twitter @Jacob_Shames.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Will Tyler Tanner of Vanderbilt basketball enter NBA draft, pros and cons