University of Tennessee Athletics
2023-24 Men's Basketball Roster | SEC Champions
Roster
Zeigler, Zakai
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Jersey Number 5
Zakai Zeigler
- Class:
- Junior
- Position:
- G
- Height:
- 5-9
- Weight:
- 171
- Hometown:
- Long Island, N.Y.
- High School:
- Our Saviour Lutheran School
- Player Shop:
- Shop
Bio
CAREER HIGHS
- Points: 26 (2x) // last at Kentucky, 2/3/24
- Rebounds: 10 // vs. Western Carolina, 12/17/24
- Assists: 15 (2x) // last at Ole Miss, 3/5/25
- Steals: 6 // vs. Georgia, 1/15/25
- Blocks: 2 // at LSU, 1/21/23
- Field Goals: 9 // at Mississippi State, 1/10/24
- 3-Pointers: 5 // vs. Norfolk State, 1/2/24
- Free Throws: 11 // at Vanderbilt, 1/18/22
- Minutes: 40:00 (4x) // last vs. Creighton (N), 3/29/24
HONORS
- 2025 USBWA Third Team All-American
- 2025 NABC Third Team All-American
- 2025 Associated Press Third Team All-American
- 2025 The Sporting News Third Team All-American
- 2025 SEC Defensive Player of the Year
- 2025 First Team All-SEC (Coaches)
- 2025 SEC All-Defensive Team
- 2025 Second Team All-SEC (AP)
- 2025 SEC All-Tournament Team
- 2025 TSWA Player of the Year
- 2025 ESPN Second Team All-American
- 2025 Bleacher Report Second Team All-American
- 2025 College Hoops Today All-America Honorable Mention
- 2025 NABC First Team All-Central District
- 2025 Bob Cousy Award Finalist, Midseason Top 10 List & Preseason Top 20 Watch List
- 2025 Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Finalist, Semifinalist & Watch List
- 2025 Lute Olson Award Finalist & Watch List
- 2025 Nolan Richardson Award Finalist
- 2025 Lefty Driesell Award Finalist
- 2025 Wooden Award Top 15 National Ballot & Midseason Top 25 Watch List
- 2025 Naismith Trophy Midseason Team & Preseason Watch List
- 2025 USBWA Oscar Robertson Trophy Midseason Watch List
- 2024-25 NABC Honors Court
- 2024-25 Winter SEC Academic Honor Roll
- 2025 The Athletic Midseason All-America Honorable Mention
- 2025 College Hoops Today Early Season First Team All-American
- AP National Player of the Week (12/31/24)
- SEC Player of the Week (12/30/24)
- 2025 Blue Ribbon Yearbook Preseason Second Team All-American
- 2025 Jay Bilas Preseason Third Team All-American
- 2025 Preseason First Team All-SEC (Media)
- 2025 Preseason First Team All-SEC (Coaches)
- 2024 SEC Defensive Player of the Year
- 2024 First Team All-SEC (Coaches)
- 2024 SEC All-Defensive Team
- 2024 Second Team All-SEC (AP)
- 2024 Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Semifinalist & Watch List
- 2024 Lefty Driesell Defensive Player of the Year Finalist
- 2024 NCAA Midwest Region All-Tournament Team
- 2024 Bob Cousy PG Midseason Top 10 List & Preseason Watch List
- 2024 Preseason First Team All-SEC (Coaches)
- 2024 Preseason Second Team All-SEC (Media)
- 2023-24 Winter SEC Academic Honor Roll
- 2023 Second Team All-SEC (Coaches, AP)
- 2023 SEC All-Defensive Team
- 2023 Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Semifinalist
- 2023 Lefty Driesell Defensive Player of the Year Finalist
- 2023 USBWA All-District IV Team
- 2023 NABC Second Team All-District 20
- 2022-23 Winter SEC Academic Honor Roll
- SEC Player of the Week (1/30/23)
- 2023 Naismith Trophy Preseason Watch List
- 2023 Preseason First Team All-SEC (Coaches)
- 2023 Preseason Second Team All-SEC (Media)
- 2021-22 First-Year SEC Academic Honor Roll
- 2022 SEC All-Defensive Team
- 2022 SEC All-Freshman Team
- 2022 Hall of Fame Invitational MVP
- SEC Freshman of the Week (2/7/22)
CAREER
- Owns the Tennessee record for both assists (747) and steals (251), good for third and co-ninth, respectively, on the SEC all-time list.
- Tied, alongside classmate Jahmai Mashack, for the most victories by a four-year player in program history, finishing 109-36 (.752).
- Registered the second-best assist-to-turnover ratio (min. 2.0 APG and 40 GP) in program history at 2.36.
- Logged the third-best assists average (5.41) and fourth-best steals average (1.82) ever by a Volunteer.
- Finished fifth (4,034) in minutes and co-fifth in games (138) played in Tennessee history, good for third and second, respectively, among four-year competitors.
- Placed co-sixth among Volunteers in made 3-pointers with 231 and No. 11 in free-throw percentage (min. 300 FTA) with a 79.4 clip.
- Scored 1,556 points at Tennessee, good for No. 18 on the program’s all-time leaderboard.
- Compiled 13 points/assists double-doubles, eight more than any other player in Tennessee history, and tied for No. 25 in program history with 14 total double-doubles.
- Second Volunteer, alongside C.J. Watson (2002-05), to thrice lead the team in assists and steals average.
- Third player to pace Tennessee in assist-to-turnover ratio (min. 2.0 APG) three straight seasons, joining Jordan Bone (2016-19) and Trae Golden (2010-13), while just two others (Tony Harris and Jon Higgins) did it non-consecutively.
- Fourth Volunteer to lead the team in steals average three straight years, alongside C.J. Watson (2002-05), Vincent Yarbrough (1999-2002) and Fred Jenkins (1983-87; four times).
- Eighth player to pace Tennessee in assists average three consecutive seasons, following Jordan Bone (2016-19), C.J. Watson (2002-06; four times), Tony Harris (1997-2001; four times), Allan Houston (1989-92), Tyrone Beaman (1981-84), Johnny Darden (1975-79; four times) and Rodney Woods (1972-75).
- Tenth Volunteer to score 300-plus points in four different seasons, including the third to exclusively play in the 2000's.
- The 21st three-time All-SEC designee in program history and the 27th two-time first-team selection (any official outlet), as well as the 14th person to make both cuts.
- First four-time All-SEC Defensive Team designee in league history and, joining Jarvis Varnado (2007-10) and Robert Williams III (2016-18), the third multiple-time SEC Defensive Player of the Year.
- One of 16 players to lead a Power Five school in career assists and steals, including one of three in the SEC, alongside Texas A&M's Alex Caruso and Missouri's Phil Pressey.
- Among four players to lead the SEC in assists average in three straight years, alongside Terry Coner (1984-87), Sean Tuohy (1978-82; four times) and Rodney Woods (1972-75), while just six others have done it even twice.
- The 17th Division I player—only one in SEC history—to compile 1,550 points, 700 assists, 350 rebounds and 250 steals, alongside Adrian Baldwin Jr. (2020-25 – five seasons), Markquis Nowell (2018-23 – five seasons), Jacob Gilyard (2017-22 – five seasons), Josh Sharkey (2016-20), Kyle Collinsworth (2010-11; 2013-16), Chaz Williams (2009-10; 2011-14), D.J. Cooper (2009-13), Jameer Nelson (2000-04), Andre Miller (1995-99), Brevin Knight (1993-97), Lee Mayberry Jr. (1988-92), Greg Anthony (1986-87; 1988-91), Keith Jennings (1987-91), Gary Payton (1986-90), Michael Anderson (1984-88) and Gary Grant (1984-88).
- Owns the program record for career assists (71) and assists average (7.1) in NCAA Tournament competition.
- Appeared in the co-second-most wins (seven) and co-third-most games (10) in the NCAA Tournament by a Volunteer, plus finished third in made free throws (25), fourth in points (112) and fourth in made 3-pointers (17).
- Amassed half the program's six double-digit assists outings in NCAA Tournament action, including all three of the points/assists double-doubles.
- Helped Tennessee earn a spot in the AP Top 25 for his entire four-year career, including 75 of 80 weeks in the top 20, 63 in the top 15, 57 in the top 12, 50 in the top 10, 24 in the top five, seven in the top three and five at No. 1 overall.
2024-25 - SENIOR
- Game-by-Game Statistics
- DOCUMENTARY: "Bet on Me | The Zakai Zeigler Story"
- VIDEO: "Everything Orange" podcast
- Started 37 of 38 games, missing one due to illness, to match the fourth-most starts in a season in program history.
- Totaled 275 assists to set the Tennessee and SEC single-season records, breaking marks that stood since 1974-75 (Rodney Woods) and 1979-80 (Sean Tuohy), respectively.
- Logged the third-most minutes (1,266), fourth-most steals (70) and fourth-highest assist average (7.43) in a campaign in program history.
- Also finished No. 11 on the Tennessee single-season leaderboard in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.48) and No. 16 in steals average (1.90).
- Averaged 13.6 points, 7.4 assists, 2.9 rebounds and 1.9 steals in 34.2 minutes per game, plus shot 81.4 percent on free throws.
- Paced the Volunteers in assists, steals, minutes, assist-to-turnover ratio (2.48), made free throws (144), free-throw attempts (177) and free-throw percentage.
- Finished second on the team in scoring, made field goals (148) and made 3-pointers (64), plus third in 3-point percentage (32.2; min. 10 3PA).
- Led the team with six double-doubles, including five with points/assists.
- One of 14 players to collect All-America plaudits from all official outlets.
- Finished third in the country in total assists and fifth in assists average, as well as No. 16 in total minutes, co-No. 29 in total steals, No. 45 in assist-to-turnover ratio, No. 56 in steals average, co-No. 68 in made free throws and No. 98 in free-throw attempts.
- Tenth Power Six player in the last 35 seasons (1990-2025) to average 13.6 points, 7.4 assists, 2.9 rebounds and 1.9 steals per game in a campaign, alongside Braden Smith (2024-25), Markquis Nowell (2022-23), Kris Dunn (2014-15), T.J. Ford (2002-03), Chris Thomas (2001-02), Omar Cook (2000-01), Brevin Knight (1996-97), Randy Livingston (1994-95) and Jason Kidd (1993-94).
- Fourth Division I player in the last 30 years (1995-2025) to accumulate 500 points, 275 assists, 100 rebounds and 70 steals in a single season, joining Braden Smith (2024-25), Markquis Nowell (2022-23) and Kyle Collinsworth (2015-16).
- One of three Division I players with multiple 15-assist performances, alongside Gonzaga’s Ryan Nembhard (three) and Purdue’s Braden Smith.
- Also placed top-six nationally in number of games with at least four assists (34; second), five assists (32; third), six assists (30; third), seven assists (24; fourth), eight assists (18; fourth), nine assists (11; fourth), 10 assists (six; co-sixth) and 12 assists (three; co-fifth).
- Lone SEC player in the last 20 years (2005-25) to reach any of the following single-game assist thresholds in one campaign: 15 twice (the rest of the league has four combined), nine 11 times, eight 18 times (only Tyler Ulis [16 in 2015-16] is above 13), seven 24 times (next is Phil Pressey with 18 in 2012-13), six 30 times (next is a tie at 23) or five 32 times.
- Also the third SEC competitor over those 20 seasons with three 12-assist showings in a single year, alongside Sharife Cooper (2020-21) and Sahvir Wheeler (2020-21), and fifth with double digits on six occasions.
- Led the SEC in total assists and assists average for the third year in a row, plus finished second in total minutes, as well as third in total steals, third in steals average, assist-to-turnover ratio and minutes average.
- Also placed fourth in the SEC in made free throws, eighth in free-throw attempts, co-ninth in double-doubles, No. 15 in free-throw percentage, No. 17 in total points (504) and No. 20 in scoring average.
- In SEC-only competition, led the league in assists (7.0) and assist-to-turnover ratio (2.64), while placing second in steals (2.1) and third in minutes (34.3), plus No. 19 in scoring (14.1).
- Logged three of the SEC’s top five single-game assist marks (15, 15 and 12), including each of the top two.
- Tied for the second-most made 3-pointers in a game without a miss (four) by an SEC player, plus matched the third-highest single-game steals count (six).
- In conference action, only player in the SEC to go 4-of-4 from 3-point range in a contest, plus tied for the top single-game steals mark with six.
- Led or co-led Tennessee in assists 36 times, minutes 26 times and steals 18 times, all team highs.
- Also led or co-led the Volunteers in scoring on nine occasions, second-most on the roster, as well as in blocks twice and rebounds once.
- Scored in double figures on 30 occasions, including 26 times in a span of 30 outings, with 15-plus in 18 contests and 20-plus four times, all second-most on the team.
- Recorded at least five assists in 32 games, with double figures in six, both team highs, plus grabbed five-plus rebounds in six contests and reached 10 once.
- Notched multiple steals on 22 occasions and three-plus 10 times, both solely team bests, with four-plus four times and five-plus twice.
- Compiled 10 of the 12 instances in which a Volunteer eclipsed 37 minutes of action, including all five over 38 minutes, and recorded all 24 showings with seven-plus assists.
- Had the top three tallies by a Tennessee player in made free throws (10, nine and nine) and three of the four outings with double-digit free-throw attempts, including solely logging the top two marks (12 and 11).
- Totaled the highest (six) and co-second-highest (five) single-game steals figures by a Volunteer, as well as the best second-half point total (22).
- Averaged 15.0 points per game over his final 22 collegiate outings, shooting 34.8 percent from 3-point range.
- Co-led all scorers with 18 points to go along with a game-best 10 assists in the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 triumph over Kentucky (3/28/25), becoming the first player in SEC history to reach those marks in the Round of 16 or later and amassing his third-career NCAA Tournament double-double, plus—on his first of the night—broke the SEC single-season record of 260 set 45 years ago, in 1979-80, by Ole Miss' Sean Tuohy.
- Recorded 15 points, six assists and a game-leading three steals in the NCAA Tournament Round of 32 win against UCLA (3/22/25), plus shot 5-of-5 at the line and tied the SEC single-season assists record (260).
- Became the sixth player in the last 50 seasons (1975-2025) with 12 points, 12 assists and zero turnovers in an NCAA Tournament game in the Round of 64 win versus Wofford (3/20/25), plus broke the Tennessee career assists record and moved into second on the SEC single-season list, as well as tied for the second-most assists in an NCAA Tournament game by a Volunteer.
- Scored a season-best 23 points, eclipsing 1,500 in his career, against fourth-ranked Florida (3/16/25) in the SEC Tournament title game, shooting 4-of-7 from 3-point range to tie season high in makes and 9-of-10 at the stripe, plus recorded a game-best eight assists to enter the top three on the SEC single-season leaderboard and a game-leading three steals to enter the top 10 on the SEC all-time list.
- Compiled a team-best 20 points and game-high four assists, entering the SEC single-season top-10 list in the latter category, in the SEC Tournament semifinal victory over third-ranked Auburn (3/15/25), finishing a perfect 9-of-9 from the stripe to post his most makes without a miss as a Volunteer.
- Scored 19 points, all in the second half, in the SEC Tournament win against Texas (3/14/25), adding six assists to break the program single-season record and become the fourth SEC player with 700 in a career.
- Led all players with eight assists in his final home game, committing just one turnover in the victory over South Carolina (3/8/25).
- Totaled eight points, a career-high-tying 15 assists and a game-best three steals at Ole Miss (3/5/25), becoming the first SEC player in the last 20 seasons (2005-25) with 15-plus assists in a league road game and/or a regulation road game, as well as the second DI player with two 15-assist performances in 2024-25 and the first Volunteer with two in a career.
- Notched 15 points, including 13 in the final 16 minutes, and four assists in the comeback win against sixth-ranked Alabama (3/1/25).
- Co-led all scorers with 17 points in the victory at LSU (2/25/25), notching 11 in the final 15 minutes.
- Notched 16 points, 13 of which came in the final 12:37, along with seven assists, two steals and a key late block in the triumph at seventh-ranked Texas A&M (2/22/25), going 10-of-12 from the line to match a career high in attempts and finish one shy of his top mark in makes.
- Scored a team-high 22 points, all in the second half in which he shot 7-of-9 from the floor and 5-of-6 at the line, and dished out a game-best eight assists in the comeback victory over Vanderbilt (2/15/25), plus moved into the top five on the SEC's all-time assists list
- Led all players in points (17) and assists (six) at No. 15/18 Kentucky (2/11/25), finishing 7-of-11 from the floor to tie a season high in makes, plus entered the top 25 on Tennessee's all-time scoring list.
- Put up 17 points, nine assists and four steals in the triumph at Oklahoma (2/8/25), finishing 6-of-8 from the floor with a 3-of-4 3-point clip.
- Scored a then-season-high 21 points in the victory against No. 15/16 Missouri (2/5/25), shooting 4-of-4 from 3-point range (a career first) and 7-of-7 at the line, adding a game-high eight assists to move into the top 10 in SEC history (636) and on Tennessee's single-season leaderboard (164).
- Did not play against No. 5/6 Florida (2/1/25) due to a right knee injury sustained four days prior against No. 12 Kentucky, snapping a 51-game starting streak.
- Posted 13 points and six assists versus No. 12 Kentucky (1/28/25), pushing him past 1,300 points as a collegian and making him the second player at an SEC school to hit that mark while also possessing 600 assists and 200 steals.
- Produced 14 points, six rebounds, five assists, two steals and a 6-of-6 free-throw mark at top-ranked Auburn (1/25/25), with just one turnover in a season-high 39-plus minutes.
- Filled the box score with nine points, seven assists and five assists in the win against No. 14 Mississippi State (1/21/25), leading all players in the latter two areas.
- Put up 16 points, 10 assists and a perfect 6-of-6 free-throw mark at Vanderbilt (1/18/25) to move into the top 30 on the program's all-time leaderboard in both points (1,274) and double-doubles (12), plus became the eighth Volunteer with 200 career made 3-pointers.
- On a night he broke the program record for career steals by upping his tally to 215, finished with 16 points, seven assists, a career-high six steals and a 4-of-8 3-point clip in the win over No. 23 Georgia (1/15/25), becoming the sixth SEC player in the last 15 seasons (2010-25) with that points/assists/steals line in a contest.
- In the win at Texas (1/11/25), totaled a team-high 16 points and eight assists, scoring 13 of his points in the final 15 minutes, including six in the last 59 seconds.
- Recorded 12 points, seven assists, five rebounds and three steals in the win against No. 23/RV Arkansas (1/4/25), plus moved into sole possession of second place on Tennessee's career assists list.
- Logged 17 points and a career-high 15 assists, tied for the fifth-most ever by a Volunteer and the top figure since 1987, against Middle Tennessee State (12/23/24), becoming the third SEC player in the last 20 seasons (2005-25) with 15-plus in both categories, as well as shot 8-of-9 at the line to set season highs in each area.
- Finished one assist shy against Western Carolina (12/17/24) of the second triple-double in program history, notching 10 points, a career-best 10 rebounds and nine assists.
- Playing approximately 38 miles from his hometown, registered his ninth-career double-double with 13 points and a game-high 10 assists in the Jimmy V Classic win over Miami (12/10/24).
- Entered the top 10 in program history in made 3-pointers and the top three in steals in the victory over Syracuse (12/3/24), finishing with 14 points, eight assists and a then-season-best four steals.
- Just missed a double-double against UT Martin (11/27/24), totaling 11 points and nine assists in just 26 minutes, chipping in two steals.
- Finished with 19 points, eight assists, three rebounds, one steal and one block versus Austin Peay (11/17/24), joining Trae Golden (2011-12) as the only Volunteers to register that line in the last 20 seasons (2005-25), plus shot 7-of-8 from the floor to become the first Tennessee guard to shoot over 85.0 percent on eight-plus attempts since Admiral Schofield (12/29/18) and became the eighth player in program history to reach 500 career assists.
- Stuffed the stat sheet with 11 points, a game-high seven assists, six rebounds, one steal and one block, with just one turnover, against Montana (11/13/24), shooting 3-of-4 from deep.
- Finished with a co-game-high 19 points, seven assists and three steals in the victory at Louisville (11/9/24), shooting 7-of-13 from the floor, including 4-of-7 beyond the arc.
- Started the year with 13 points and nine assists versus Gardner-Webb (11/4/24), adding two steals to move into the top five on Tennessee's career leaderboard.
2023-24 - JUNIOR
- Game-by-Game Statistics
- VIDEO: Mic'd Up
- Among the six Volunteers to appear in all 36 affairs, starting each of the final 30.
- Finished with the third-most assists (218) in a season in program history, trailing only Rodney Woods (227 in 1974-75) and Johnny Darden (221 in 1976-77), while also placing No. 15 among all SEC players in the last 45 seasons (1979-2024).
- Placed fourth at Tennessee in single-season assist-to-turnover ratio (2.79), seventh in assists per game (6.06), ninth in steals (62) and No. 14 in minutes (1,138).
- Averaged 11.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, 6.1 assists and 1.7 steals in 31.6 minutes per game, plus shot 34.4 percent from beyond the arc.
- Led the team in assists, steals and minutes, while ranking second in scoring, made 3-pointers (72), made free throws (84) and free-throw attempts (119), plus third in made field goals (134).
- Tied for second on the team with three double-doubles, all with points and assists.
- Became the second player in Tennessee history to win SEC Defensive Player of the Year, joining Yves Pons (2019-20), and the third individual under 6-foot to do so, alongside Tremont Waters (2018-19) and Tyler Ulis (2015-16).
- Became the fifth SEC player in at least the last 45 seasons (1979-2024) with multiple 13-assist outings in a single campaign, joining Sahvir Wheeler (2020-21), Phil Pressey (2012-13), Dee Bost (2011-12) and John Wall (2009-10).
- Totaled four of the nine double-digit assist outings by an SEC player—only Reed Sheppard had even two—and notched both performances of 12-plus assists.
- One of seven DI players with 13-plus assists multiple times and one of 12 with seven-plus assists at least 20 times.
- Finished No. 12 nationally in total assists, No. 22 in assists per game, No. 28 in assist rate (min. 400 MP; 34.1), No. 31 in assist-to-turnover ratio and co-No. 56 in steals.
- Led the SEC in assists per game for the second consecutive season, the 10th person ever to do so, and also paced the league in total assists.
- Finished third in the SEC in assist-to-turnover ratio, fourth in total steals and steals per game, fifth in total minutes (1,138), No. 12 in minutes per game, co-No. 12 in total made 3-pointers and co-No. 15 made 3-pointers per game (2.0).
- Paced the league in assists (7.0) in SEC-only action, while also ranking second in steals (2.1), third in assist-to-turnover ratio (3.15), sixth in minutes (34.1), co-No. 11 in made 3-pointers (2.3) and No. 19 in scoring (14.1).
- Led or co-led the Volunteers in assists 30 times, minutes 21 times and steals 15 times, all team highs.
- Also led or co-led Tennessee in scoring six times, second-most on the roster, as well as in blocks twice and in rebounding once.
- Ranked third among Volunteers with 20 double-digit scoring performances, all in the final 28 games, as well as second in number outings with 15-plus points (13; eight in a 13-game span), 18-plus points (seven), 20-plus points (four) and 25-plus points (two).
- Paced the team in number of contests with three-plus assists (33), five-plus assists (24), seven-plus assists (14), 10-plus assists (four), 13-plus assists (two), multiple steals (16), three-plus steals (10) and four-plus steals (seven).
- Posted the highest single-game assist total (14), steal tally (five) and minutes total (40:00, thrice) by a Tennessee player, plus tied for the most free-throw attempts (12) in an outing.
- Lone Volunteer to make three 3-pointers in a game without a miss on the season, plus tied for the best single-game field-goal percentage (min. 5 FGM) on the team with a 5-of-6 (83.3 percent) mark.
- Ended the year with nine points and a game-best eight assists, the latter mark moving him into the top three on Tennessee's single-season leaderboard, versus third-ranked Purdue (3/31/24) in the Elite Eight, committing just one turnover in 39 minutes.
- Registered 18 points and a game-best six assists, breaking the school's career record for assists in NCAA Tournament play in the process, in the Sweet 16 triumph over No. 11 Creighton (3/29/24).
- Recorded the 15th points/assists double-double by an SEC player in NCAA Tournament history, including the first by a Volunteer, with 11 points and 10 assists in the win over Saint Peter's (3/21/24).
- Scored a game-high 20 points in the SEC Tournament outing against Mississippi State (3/15/24) and, in doing so, became the 56th member of Tennessee's 1,000-point club.
- Concluded the regular season with a 17-point, nine-assist performance against No. 15/13 Kentucky (3/9/24), finishing 4-of-11 from 3-point range and committing just one turnover.
- Had 13 points, five rebounds and a game-best seven assists in the SEC championship-clinching win at No. 17/16 South Carolina (3/6/24).
- Posted a team-best 18 points, including 13 after halftime, and a co-team-high four assists in the victory at No. 14/13 Alabama (3/2/24).
- Put up 17 points, made all three of his 3-pointers, tied a career high with 12 free-throw attempts and dished out a game-best nine assists in the victory against No. 11 Auburn (2/28/24).
- In the win over Texas A&M (2/24/24), became the first DI player in at least the last 19 seasons (2005-24), with nine points, a then-career-high nine rebounds, a then-career-high 14 assists, four steals and zero turnovers, tying for the sixth-most assists in a single game in Tennessee history.
- Scored 14 points on 4-of-5 3-point shooting against Vanderbilt (2/17/24), adding five assists to take sole possession of the No. 10 spot on Tennessee's all-time leaderboard.
- Finished with 15 points, a then-career-high-tying six rebounds, six assists and four steals at Texas A&M (2/10/24).
- Amassed 17 points, nine assists and a then-career-high-tying five steals versus LSU (2/7/24), becoming the fifth SEC player—sixth occurrence—in the last 16 seasons (2008-24) to record that stat line and the first SEC player since Auburn's Jared Harper on Feb. 3/7, 2018, to log 22 assists in a two-game span of regulation conference contests.
- Logged a co-career-high 26 points on 8-of-11 shooting, a then-career-best 13 assists and a game-leading three steals in the win at No. 10/8 Kentucky (2/3/24), becoming the fourth SEC player in the last 20 seasons with a 25-point, 10-assist showing in regulation, the first SEC player with 13 assists in a regulation road game since Feb. 14, 2009, tying for the ninth-most assists ever by a Volunteer and notching the most assists for any player against Kentucky since Jan. 13, 1993. A full list of notes from his performance can be found HERE.
- Recorded 18 points, five rebounds, five assists and two steals in the comeback win at Georgia (1/13/24), as well as moved into the top 15 on Tennessee's career assists leaderboard with 335.
- Dropped a career-best 26 points in the SEC road opener at Mississippi State (1/10/24), shooting 9-of-15 from the floor to set a career high in makes, 4-of-9 on 3-pointers and 4-of-5 at the line, while adding seven assists, three steals and a block.
- Started SEC play with 17 points and 10 assists, as well as shot 4-of-11 from deep, in the victory against No. 22/19 Ole Miss (1/6/24) for his sixth points/assists double-double, setting a new Tennessee career record.
- Posted a game-leading 17 points and four steals against Norfolk State (1/2/24), shooting 5-of-10 from deep to set a career high in made triples.
- Compiled a game-high 13 points and co-game-best five assists versus Tarleton State (12/21/23).
- Set then-season bests in points (20), made field goals (seven), made 3-pointers (four), assists (eight) and minutes (39), as well as tied his top mark in steals (four), versus eventual NCAA semifinalist NC State (12/16/23) in San Antonio, Texas, and claimed Basketball Hall of Fame Series Player of the Game honors.
- Finished with 11 points, four assists and no turnovers in the triumph against No. 20 Illinois (12/9/23), also serving as the primary defender on Marcus Domask, who went 2-of-12 on field goals.
- Entered the starting lineup in the outing at No. 17 North Carolina (11/29/23), notching nine points and seven assists.
2022-23 - SOPHOMORE
- Game-by-Game Statistics
- VIDEO: 2023 Player Feature
- At the time of his season-ending injury, led the SEC in assists (161, 5.4 apg) while boasting an impressive 2.37 assist-to-turnover ratio.
- Became the first Vol since C.J. Watson in 2004-05 to finish a season as the SEC's assists leader (5.4 apg).
- Finished SEC regular-season play as the league leader in total assists (111) and assists per game (6.53 apg) while finishing second in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.92).
- Became just the seventh player in program history to average 10.0-plus points and 5.0-plus assists in a season (10.7 ppg, 5.4 apg).
- Had five points/assists double-doubles on the season, tying the program's career record (Rodney Woods from 1972-75).
- His 161 assists tied for the ninth-highest single-season total by a Vol, matching former teammate Kennedy Chandler (2021-22).
- His 2.37 assist/turnover ratio put him ninth on the program's all-time single-season list.
- Finished the season with 59 total steals, with his 1.97 average good for No. 12 on the program's all-time single-season list.
- Suffered a season-ending left knee injury three minutes into Tennessee's home finale vs. Arkansas (2/28/23), scoring the game's first field goal and dishing an assist before the injury occurred.
- Tied Tennessee's career record for points-assists double-doubles when he posted his fifth such performance in the win over South Carolina (2/25/23), totaling 13 points, a then-career-high 11 assists and a game-high three steals.
- Shared team-high scoring honors in the win over top-ranked Alabama (2/15/23), finishing with 15 points to go along with eight assists, two steals and no turnovers in 35 masterful minutes.
- Posted his fourth points/assists double-double in 12 games against Missouri (2/11/23) with an 11-point, 10-assist effort, accounting for 39 points via scoring and assists.
- Recorded a third-career double-double, accounting for 45 of the team's points, with a 22-point, 10-assist effort in a victory over No. 10 Texas (1/28/23), just the seventh game in program history in which a player had 20-plus points and 10-plus assists.
- Making his third consecutive start, had an 11-point, seven-assist, four-steal outing against Georgia (1/25/23).
- Accounted for 38 total points via scoring and assists at LSU (1/21/23) and recorded his second-career double-double with 12 points and 10 assists, adding a pair of blocks and steals.
- Made his first start since November at Mississippi State (1/17/23) and became the first Vol in greater than three years to play 40 minutes in a regulation game, scoring a career-high 24 points, including 16 in the second half.
- Had an eight-assist, four-steal outing in the triumph at South Carolina (1/7/23).
- Recorded his first-career double-double with 11 points and 10 assists against Mississippi State (1/3/23), becoming just the 15th Vol in program history to obtain a points/assists double-double.
- Scored 13 points at Ole Miss (12/28/22) with a 9-for-10 performance at the free-throw line.
- Posted 21 points on 8-of-11 shooting and had a then-career-high-tying six rebounds at ninth-ranked Arizona (12/17/22).
- Named Game MVP at the Basketball Hall of Fame Invitational against No. 13 Maryland (12/11/22), recording a team-high 12 points and three assists in front of a hometown crowd.
- Produced an all-around performance against Eastern Kentucky (12/7/22) with 13 points, a then-co-career-high six rebounds, five assists and four steals.
- Had 10 points, a then-career-high-tying five steals and four assists against Alcorn State (12/4/22).
- Logged 14 points, including 11 in the second half and eight during an 11-0 run to take control of the game, during the win over third-ranked Kansas (11/25/22) to claim the Battle 4 Atlantis title.
- Posted an all-around effort in the win over Butler (11/23/22) with 10 points, five assists, four rebounds and three steals.
- Started the season opener against Tennessee Tech (11/7/22), logging 12 points, five assists and a pair of steals in the victory.
- After the Sept. 15, 2022, announcement that Tennessee would retire Chris Lofton's No. 5 jersey during the 2022-23 season, Lofton gave his blessing for Zeigler to finish his UT career wearing that number.
- Selected to participate in the prestigious VOLeaders Academy in 2022-23, a year-long student-athlete leadership curriculum.
2021-22 - FRESHMAN
- Game-by-Game Statistics
- VIDEO: 2022 Player Feature
- Made a major impact off the bench as a true freshman, ranking second on the team in steals (1.7 spg), third in assists (2.7 apg) and fourth in scoring (8.8 ppg).
- In SEC play, he raised his scoring average to 10.1 ppg, one of only four players on the team to average double figures, while his 86.6 free-throw percentage during league play led the roster.
- Became just the fourth Volunteer ever selected to the SEC All-Defensive Team, including the first freshman, joining JaJuan Smith (2007-08), Josh Richardson (2013-14 and 2014-15) and Yves Pons (2019-20 and 2020-21).
- The first player off the bench in a team-high 19 games.
- Led the Vols in steals 12 times, in assists six times and in scoring four times.
- Scored in double figures during 12 of Tennessee’s 18 regular season SEC games, including nine of the final 11, and had 17 total double-figure scoring efforts to rank fourth on the team.
- Ranked No. 11 among all DI players in steal percentage, logging a steal on 4.54 percent of opponents' possessions when he was on the floor.
- Finished the regular season just one steal shy of the SEC lead in steals during conference play, averaging 2.2 takeaways per game with 40 steals in 18 SEC games.
- Capped off the regular season with 13 points, a season-high six assists and five rebounds against No. 14 Arkansas (3/5/22).
- Produced 13 points and had three steals in the win over third-ranked Auburn (2/26/22), shooting 8-of-9 at the free-throw line.
- Scored a team-high 12 points at Arkansas and was 6-for-6 at the free throw line with two made 3-pointers.
- Compiled 14 points, four assists and four steals in Tennessee’s win over fourth-ranked Kentucky (2/15/22).
- Had a team-high 16 points against Vanderbilt (2/12/22), also recording a season-high-tying five assists and zero turnovers.
- Scored 11 points, adding five steals and two assists, in just 16 minutes at Mississippi State (2/9/22).
- In the win at South Carolina (2/5/22), was held scoreless in the first half before scoring a season-high-tying 18 points in a second half during which he shot 6-of-9 overall and made all four of his3-point attempts.
- Scored 14 points versus Texas A&M (2/1/22) and had an ankle-breaking crossover that was the No. 2 play on SportsCenter.
- Spearheaded Tennessee’s near-comeback at Texas (1/29/22), scoring 12 points and grabbing three rebounds in total.
- Scored 11 points with three made 3-pointers, grabbed a season-high six rebounds, dished four assists and recorded his first-career block against Florida (1/26/22).
- Registered 11 points at Vanderbilt (1/18/22) with an 11-for-12 performance at the free throw line, adding four steals.
- In 22 minutes off the bench versus South Carolina (1/11/22), scored 11 points, tallied four assists and had a team-high four steals.
- Stuffed the stat sheet with eight points, a then-season-high five rebounds and a season-high five steals against Ole Miss (1/5/22).
- Making his first career start, scored 11 points and a had a team-high four assists in 27 minutes at Alabama (12/29/21).
- Made three 3-pointers against UNC Greensboro (12/11/21), also recording two assists and two steals.
- Exploded for a season-high and team-leading 18 points on 7-for-10 shooting, including 3-for-5 from 3-point range, in the win over No. 18 North Carolina (11/21/21), adding five assists in 28 minutes of action with no turnovers at the Hall of Fame Tip-Off in Uncasville, Conn.
- Shot 3-for-4 from the field and hit his first collegiate 3-pointer against fifth-ranked Villanova (11/20/21) in Uncasville, finishing with seven points.
- In 10 minutes off the bench, scored four points, recorded two steals and dished out an assist against East Tennesee State(11/14/21).
- Logged 13 minutes of action off the bench in his collegiate debut against UT Martin (11/9/21), recording three points, a game-high-tying four assists and one rebound.
HIGH SCHOOL
- Graduated from Our Saviour Lutheran School in Bronx, N.Y., transferring there late in his senior year with the initial intent of taking a postgraduate year, but instead signed with Tennessee in late August.
- Spent the majority of the 2020-21 school year, including basketball season, at Immaculate Conception High School in Montclair, N.J., averaging 20.0 points and 4.6 assists per game as a senior.
- Played his AAU ball with the New York Lightning program in the EYBL, coached/directed by Dana Dingle, and was a teammate of eventual Tennessee teammate Tobe Awaka for one year.
- Had a breakout showing in six games at the 2021 Peach Jam, averaging 15.3 points and 5.5 assists per game, while boasting a 4.7 assist-to-turnover ratio and connecting on 50.0 percent of his 3-point attempts.
- Against eventual Peach Jam champion Team Final, he had 23 points on 7-for-8 shooting from 3-point range while also tallying 10 assists, three steals and three rebounds with no turnovers, an outing labeled by The Season Ticket as the “Best Performance” of the 2021 Peach Jam.
PERSONAL
- Full name is Zakai Za’Miek Zeigler.
- Name is pronounced zuh-KY ZEE-glur.
- Born Aug. 2, 2002, in Long Island, N.Y.
- Mother is Charmane Zeigler.
- Younger half-brother, Armoni, plays basketball at Saint Peter's and the two met in the opening round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament.
- Majoring in retail & merchandising management.
- Also competed in football growing up, playing running back, quarterback and safety.
- Continues a storied history of Vols who hail from the New York City area, following SEC Player of the Year honoree Ernie Grunfeld (Forest Hills), one-and-done first-round pick Tobias Harris (Dix Hills), Naismith Hall of Fame inductee Bernard King (Brooklyn), All-SEC choice Kevin Punter Jr. (Bronx), All-America selection Ed Wiener (Brooklyn), SEC Sixth Man of the Year designee Brian Williams (Bronx) and All-America honoree Howard Wood (East Hampton).
- The shortest scholarship Volunteer since Ralph Parton (1979-80), who stood 5-7, but is co-first on the team with a +5.25-inch wingspan (6-2.25) and has a max trap bar deadlift (465 pounds) of 2.7 times his body weight, plus has gained 24.2 pounds and upped his standing vertical jump by 4.23 inches since getting to Tennessee.
- After his family’s apartment was destroyed in a fire during his freshman season, Tennessee fans pledged over $363,000 in under 48 hours through a GoFundMe effort, with the proceeds enabling his family to relocate to Knoxville, Tenn., in the spring of 2022.
- Recipient of both the Larry Pratt Athletic Scholarship Endowment and the Earl Keister II Basketball Endowment.
MBB | Rick Barnes Media Availability (9.23.25)
Tuesday, September 23
MBB | Ethan Burg Media Availability (9.23.25)
Tuesday, September 23
MBB | Ja'Kobi Gillespie Media Availability (9.23.25)
Tuesday, September 23
VFL Grant Williams Commits $1.5 Million Gift to Tennessee
Thursday, September 18
