With the NCAA Tournament here, it means that the Tennessee Vols are ready to go on a deep run, but it also means that we've got to say goodbye soon to a lot of seniors. The list includes superstar point guard Zakai Zeigler, who has been unreal this season for Rick Barnes.
It's tough to put into words what No. 5 has meant to this team. Thankfully, he's getting national recognition for what he's been able to get done on the hardwood. On Tuesday, the Associated Press released its national honors and Zeigler was named a Third-Team All-American. This is wonderful for ZZ and it's something he fully deserved:
🚨 AP All-America Third-Team
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 18, 2025
🏀 Hunter Dickinson
🏀 Eric Dixon
🏀 Ryan Kalkbrenner
🏀 Zakai Zeigler
🏀 LJ Cryer pic.twitter.com/co2V9ShZGx
Tennessee PG Zakai Zeigler was named a Third-Team All-American
The 5-9 New York native has indeed been tremendous this year. Zeigler is averaging 13.8 points and 7.3 assists per game this season. That's just on offense. On the other side of the hardwood, he was once again tremendous, winning SEC Defensive Player of the Year for the second consecutive season.
We can go on and on about how much fun Zeigler is to watch too. Before we get too emotional, let's remember that the stud is focused on powering Tennessee on a deep run in the NCAA Tournament. This will come following a strong showing in the SEC Tournament.
Unfortunately, a loss to Florida, a No. 1 seed for the Big Dance, was posted in the final. However, that doesn't take away from the fact that the Vols are built to potentially make the Final Four for the first time in program history - that's how talented this group is.
Things will get started on Thursday, as Midwest Region No. 2 Tennessee will be taking on No. 15 Wofford in the first round. With a win, UT will take on either UCLA or Utah State in the second round with a trip to the Sweet Sixteen on the line. Zeigler will do everything he can to make sure this team impresses, and he'll be doing so as an All-American.