How has the time flown by so fast? On Saturday, the Tennessee Vols basketball team will host South Carolina and the seniors will be honored after the final whistle. Among those saying goodbye to Knoxville will be standout point guard Zakai Zeigler.
Zeigler, plain and simple, has been a rockstar for this team and he’s been a fan favorite for a while now. From the moment he made his way to campus, Zeigler has done everything right and played the game an an outstanding level.
Being a stud playmaker from the Bronx, Zeigler has called Tennessee home since 2021 and he has cherised every day on campus. When asked what he wants people to remember him for, the guard understandably gave a pretty emotional response:
toughness and resilience personified
VFL • Zakai Zeigler pic.twitter.com/ZvgN2ikfUB
— Tennessee Basketball (@Vol_Hoops) March 7, 2025
Zakai Zeigler is getting ready to say goodbye to the Tennessee Vols
“I just want them (young fans) to remember me as somebody that was a good guy, a pretty good basketball player and just somebody that they could look up to,” Zeigler said.
In the video above, Zeigler recalled hanging out with people after games and realizing as he got older how big of an impact he was making on the local community. He would make a kid’s day by having a good game and powering the Vols to a win.
With a victory on Saturday, Zeigler will be able to close out his time at home the right way. This season, he’s averaging 13.5 points and 7.4 assists per game. Zeigler, the reigning SEC Defensive Player of the Year, is one of the best point guards in the country.
While he’s a bit emotional now, Zeigler and the other seniors know that there’s still some more business to take care of. Following the showdown with South Carolina, the SEC Tournament will arrive and then next thing you know the Vols will be playing in the NCAA Tournament. Zeigler will look to keep adding to his legacy by posting more memorable performances. Rick Barnes is surely confident he’ll deliver.
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