While his days playing for Tennessee are done, VFL Zakai Zeigler is still racking up awards for his time in Knoxville.
On Wednesday, Zeigler was named the Tennessee Sportswriters Association Men’s Basketball Player of the Year. Zeigler earned 12 of the 20 votes among a list of collegiate basketball players from across the state at all levels.
Zeigler capped off his Tennessee career with a record-setting senior campaign. The 5-foot-9 guard was a staple on the court for Rick Barnes’ team with an average of 34.2 minutes across 37 contests this season. Zeigler also became Tennessee’s all-time leader in assists with 726 across his four-year career. In a loss to Ole Miss in early March, Zeigler notched a career-high 15 assists before the postseason.
Zeigler averaged 13.6 points, 7.4 assists (fifth nationally), and 2.9 rebounds per game last season while leading Tennessee to a second straight Elite Eight appearance. Zeigler’s playmaking ability on the court and leadership traits off the court make him a sure-fire Tennessee legend — and worthy of the TSWA’s MBB Player of the Year nod.
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The Long Island native’s legacy at Tennessee stretches far beyond the court or the stat sheet, though that is a pretty hefty section in itself. Zeigler’s four-year loyalty won’t be soon forgotten by Tennessee fans, especially in an NIL season where UT fans are also dealing with Nico Iamaleava’s reported money-based departure from Rocky Top. Zeigler found a home and a family in Knoxville, and his play flourished on the court because of it.
“When you have two guys in particular who have been with us for four years like Zakai Zeigler and Jahmai Mashack, when we look back, I think they will be the two most accomplished Tennessee Volunteer players ever,” Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes said after the Vols’ season-ending loss to Houston. “We owe it to them to continue with the standard they have set, or even take it to another level.”
Zeigler is the third Tennessee player in the last seven years to win the TWSA MBB PotY award, following Dalton Knecht in 2023-2024 and Grant Williams in 2018-2019.
Chattanooga’s Dan Earl won the TWSA Coach of the Year award while Vanderbilt’s Mikayla Blakes won the TWSA WBB PotY award.
