top of page

2026 NBA Draft: Tyler Tanner Scouting Report

Vanderbilt's Tyler Tanner drives to the hoop during a college basketball game.

Throughout the 2025-26 season, Babcock Hoops will provide comprehensive scouting reports on top 2026 NBA Draft prospects, analyzing their strengths, weaknesses, and potential at the next level. Our reports offer an in-depth look at each player's development and draft outlook.


Tyler Tanner

Position: Guard

College: Vanderbilt

Class: Sophomore

Height/Weight: 6'0", 173 lbs

Birthdate: February 1, 2006

High School: Brentwood Academy (TN)


Player Overview


Tyler Tanner is an explosive, shifty guard who plays with real pace and craft as a primary initiator. He can pressure the paint, draw fouls, and create offense both as a scorer and a facilitator. Despite being undersized, he shows pop as a vertical athlete and has the quickness to consistently win advantages off the bounce. The big swing skill is how his perimeter shot develops, both volume and efficiency, because his ability to control the game at high speed is evident, but NBA decision-making and shot quality will determine whether he becomes a true lead guard at the next level.


"He has waterbug-like quickness and an extremely crafty game; he makes a lot happen. And as cliché as it sounds, his lack of size is a real issue. Scouts will have to continuously weigh whether his talent outweighs the disadvantages his size creates at the next level." — Matt Babcock, NBA Draft Analyst

Strengths


  • Burst and shiftiness: Very quick with the ball, changes speeds well, and consistently gets into the lane.

  • Explosive scoring pressure: Attacks downhill, finishes creatively, and can play above the rim in space despite his size.

  • Foul drawing: Gets into defenders’ bodies and generates free throws at a strong rate for a smaller guard.

  • Crafty playmaking: Creates passing angles off penetration and can deliver reads at speed.

  • Point-of-attack intensity: Aggressive on-ball defender, competes, and will jump passing lanes to create turnovers.

  • Game tempo control: Dictates pace and keeps defenses on their heels by staying in attack mode.



Concerns


  • Size and frame: Undersized with a slight build, which can cap matchups and create issues versus bigger guards and wings.

  • Shot selection: Can drift toward difficult, off-balance attempts when he’s moving too fast and playing outside the flow.

  • Perimeter shooting volume: The three-point profile is still a question due to low volume and needing more consistent pull-up and pick-and-roll three-point attempts.


Bottom Line


Tanner’s calling card is speed, craft, and downhill creation. He has the burst to bend a defense, the feel to make plays off advantage, and the competitive edge to be a disruptive on-ball defender. His size is an issue, and he needs to prove his jumper can translate with more volume and cleaner decision-making, but if those pieces trend the right way, his ability to control games at NBA-level pace gives him a chance to climb quickly as one of the more intriguing guards in college basketball.


Preciser
bottom of page