Watch: Vols guard Zakai Zeigler makes Texas A&M defender look silly
Freshman guard Zakai Zeigler was an afterthought when he committed to the Tennessee Vols just before the start of the 2021-22 season. Zeigler was an undersized three-star guard from Brooklyn who didn't receive much interest during the recruiting process. In fact, at one point, Zeigler considered giving up basketball. “I was very worried, I was […]
Freshman guard Zakai Zeigler was an afterthought when he committed to the Tennessee Vols just before the start of the 2021-22 season.
Zeigler was an undersized three-star guard from Brooklyn who didn't receive much interest during the recruiting process.
In fact, at one point, Zeigler considered giving up basketball.
“I was very worried, I was stressing, and I was telling my family and friends that I didn’t want to play ball anymore,” said Zeigler to 247Sports back in August. “It was too stressful. I was getting down on myself and losing confidence and it was just very stressful.”
Vols head coach Rick Barnes saw something special in Zeigler — he saw heart and toughness, two things that can't be taught.
Barnes' instincts are being rewarded, as Zeigler has been a revelation for Tennessee this season.
While five-star guard Kennedy Chandler gets all the hype (and he should…Chandler is an elite talent who will soon be NBA-bound), it's Zeigler who is slowly morphing into the heart of the Volunteers.
The New York native has scored in double digits in five of his past seven games. On Tuesday night, in a win against Texas A&M, Zeigler scored 14 points in 27 minutes.
And he made an Aggies defender look absolutely silly in the process.
Zeigler is a player that's likely going to be at Tennessee for four years. He's already quickly becoming a fan favorite. By the end of his time on Rocky Top, I think you'll see this kid reach Jauan Jennings status where fans go absolutely crazy for him.
It's the toughness and the heart. Fans will always appreciate that.
Featured image via Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK
