University of Tennessee Athletics
Photo by: Andrew Ferguson/Tennessee Athletics
Zeigler Among 15 Tabbed to Naismith Defensive POY Watch List
February 07, 2024 | Men's Basketball
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Zakai Zeigler of the University of Tennessee men's basketball team is a member of the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Watch List, as announced Wednesday afternoon by Atlanta Tipoff Club/Naismith Awards.
The elite group of names includes just 15 players from across the country. Zeigler is one of only two selections from the SEC, alongside Auburn's Johni Broome.
Now a junior guard, Zeigler was one of 10 semifinalists for Naismith Defensive Player of the Year during his sophomore campaign in 2022-23. The only other individuals in the top 15 this season who also made the cut last year—all three were also selected as semifinalists—are Purdue's Zach Edey, Creighton's Ryan Kalkbrenner and Kansas' Kevin McCullar Jr.
A native of Long Island, N.Y., Zeigler is one of just five players in the SEC averaging at least 2.0 steals per game in SEC play. In a nine-game stretch from Dec. 12, 2023, to Jan. 20, 2024, Zeigler amassed 25 steals, becoming the second Volunteer in head coach Rick Barnes' tenure to achieve that feat, alongside Kennedy Chandler in 2021-22.
In just 86 collegiate appearances, Zeigler already ranked No. 10 in Tennessee history with 155 steals, while his 1.8 steals per game place fourth. He is No. 10 among active SEC players—all nine above him have been in college at least one year longer—in career steals and second in career steals average.
According to College Basketball Reference, Zeigler is top-eight in the SEC this season in both steal percentage (3.3) and defensive rating (99.2).
Zeigler and sixth-ranked Tennessee (16-5, 6-2 SEC) are back in action Tuesday at 7 p.m. against LSU, live on SEC Network from Food City Center.
To keep up with the University of Tennessee men's basketball team on social media, follow @Vol_Hoops on Instagram and X/Twitter, as well as /tennesseebasketball on Facebook. Â
NAISMITH DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR WATCH LIST
Adrian "Ace" Baldwin Jr., Penn State
Reece Beekman, Virginia
Adem Bona, UCLA
Johni Broome, Auburn
Devin Carter, Providence
Ryan Dunn, Virginia
Zach Edey, Purdue
Dajuan Harris Jr., Kansas
Jaelen House, New Mexico
Ryan Kalkbrenner, Creighton
Tamin Lipsey, Iowa State
Kevin McCullar Jr., Kansas
Clifford Omoruyi, Rutgers
Jamal Shead, Houston
Zakai Zeigler, Tennessee
The elite group of names includes just 15 players from across the country. Zeigler is one of only two selections from the SEC, alongside Auburn's Johni Broome.
Now a junior guard, Zeigler was one of 10 semifinalists for Naismith Defensive Player of the Year during his sophomore campaign in 2022-23. The only other individuals in the top 15 this season who also made the cut last year—all three were also selected as semifinalists—are Purdue's Zach Edey, Creighton's Ryan Kalkbrenner and Kansas' Kevin McCullar Jr.
A native of Long Island, N.Y., Zeigler is one of just five players in the SEC averaging at least 2.0 steals per game in SEC play. In a nine-game stretch from Dec. 12, 2023, to Jan. 20, 2024, Zeigler amassed 25 steals, becoming the second Volunteer in head coach Rick Barnes' tenure to achieve that feat, alongside Kennedy Chandler in 2021-22.
In just 86 collegiate appearances, Zeigler already ranked No. 10 in Tennessee history with 155 steals, while his 1.8 steals per game place fourth. He is No. 10 among active SEC players—all nine above him have been in college at least one year longer—in career steals and second in career steals average.
According to College Basketball Reference, Zeigler is top-eight in the SEC this season in both steal percentage (3.3) and defensive rating (99.2).
Zeigler and sixth-ranked Tennessee (16-5, 6-2 SEC) are back in action Tuesday at 7 p.m. against LSU, live on SEC Network from Food City Center.
To keep up with the University of Tennessee men's basketball team on social media, follow @Vol_Hoops on Instagram and X/Twitter, as well as /tennesseebasketball on Facebook. Â
NAISMITH DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR WATCH LIST
Adrian "Ace" Baldwin Jr., Penn State
Reece Beekman, Virginia
Adem Bona, UCLA
Johni Broome, Auburn
Devin Carter, Providence
Ryan Dunn, Virginia
Zach Edey, Purdue
Dajuan Harris Jr., Kansas
Jaelen House, New Mexico
Ryan Kalkbrenner, Creighton
Tamin Lipsey, Iowa State
Kevin McCullar Jr., Kansas
Clifford Omoruyi, Rutgers
Jamal Shead, Houston
Zakai Zeigler, Tennessee
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