It's hard to put into words what Zakai Zeigler has meant to the Tennessee Vols basketball program in recent years. Zeigler has become one of the top point guards in the country and he's the reigning SEC Defensive Player of the Year.
There's a reason head coach Rick Barnes always speaks so highly of his playmaker, as Zeigler does just about everything right both on and off the court. He's a Tennessee fan favorite and that's not going to change anytime soon.
With this being his final year on campus, people are already getting sad about the thought of him not suiting up for UT next season. However, could that end up changing? It remains up in the air if the NCAA will give players five years of eligibility across all sports. Should something get finalized in the near future, Zeigler said that he'd be all for a return to Knoxville:
Zakai Zeigler was asked on @utlockerroom last night if he would be interested in a fifth year at Tennessee.
— @GrantRamey (@GrantRamey) February 3, 2025
Zakai: "Why would I not?"
[That is, if a fifth year is added by the NCAA and if it's added in time for basketball seniors to be part of it]
🔗https://t.co/jReG6Ocfx7 pic.twitter.com/lAGTdScQzd
Zakai Zeigler is open to the idea of playing for Tennessee next season
Zeigler has a ton of love for the Tennessee faithful and he knows the feeling is mutual. Zeigler joined Tennessee in 2021, appearing in 35 games as a baby-faced freshman. Since then, he has become a key figure for the locker room.
Even with Zeigler out against (then) No. 5 Florida on Saturday due to a minor knee injury suffered against Kentucky, he was making a difference for the team while on the bench. The ESPN cameras consistently caught him coaching up players while he was in street clothes.
It killed him to not be on the floor with his teammates for the upset win over the Gators, but he was passionately cheering his teammates on, while also coaching them up too. It was special to see and it once again showcased just how much Tennessee means to him. Who knows what will happen with the NCAA rules, but getting Zeigler back for 2025-26 would be incredible for Barnes.