Zakai Zeigler embracing veteran role going into final season with Tennessee basketball

Zakai Zeigler dribbled the ball, playing a game of keep-away with the young campers who quickly grew into a swarm around him.

The Tennessee basketball star point guard had been overseeing their layup lines, but when he got involved at one point, the drill quickly devolved into chaos. They couldn't help it — the campers who packed the gym adored Zeigler.

It's the first camp he has done on his own, and he was nervous walking into the gym at Grace Christian Academy, unsure how many kids would show. But he was greeted with a crowd — there were more than 200 kids signed up for the two three-hour sessions Saturday.

Zeigler got to see firsthand the impact he has made on the Knoxville community the past three seasons, and it felt different than anything on the court.

"I get to see how all the fans react when I might hit a shot or get a steal or an assist," he told Knox News. "But actually seeing them face to face and seeing the impact I have on the community, let alone just Vol nation, how well they have my back is really mind-blowing."

The rising senior is going into his final season with the Vols after coming off his best season yet. Zeigler averaged career highs of 11.8 points, 6.1 assists and 2.8 rebounds as he helped lead Tennessee to an SEC regular-season championship and a run to the NCAA Elite Eight. He was named first-team All-SEC and the 2024 SEC Defensive Player of the Year.

Zeigler still can't believe he's a senior. He remembers the first day he stepped on campus and walked into the gym. He wasn't one of the four ranked players in his recruiting class. He wasn't projected to become the starting point guard as a sophomore, to become the beloved fan favorite in Knoxville.

"Nobody knew who I was," Zeigler said. "And now, anytime I'm pumping gas, everybody says, 'Hey, what's up, Zakai?' Asking how I'm doing, asking how my family is . . . I'm lost for words, how thankful I am for the opportunity that I've got here. And now that I'm a senior, I'm just glad that I spent all four of my years here."

Zeigler and Jahmai Mashack are the only two players from their recruiting class still at UT. They have bigger roles this season after the graduation of fifth-year seniors Santiago Vescovi and Josiah-Jordan James, and the Vols are bringing in four transfers and four freshmen.

"We got to hold dudes accountable. Sometimes you got to be the guy that people might not like some days," Zeigler said. "But off the court, we're always going to be those guys' best friends. So just being able to be in that role, we're really thankful, but we're ready to take it into full effect and take full advantage of it."

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Zeigler said he already loves all of the transfers — guards Chaz Lanier and Darlinstone Dubar and forwards Felix Okpara and Igor Miličić Jr.

Things were a little different at first because some of them are really shy, and Zeigler said he is a "super shy person" himself. But once the ice broke, Zeigler could feel the bond there.

"We just all sat in the locker room and start talking trash to each other, like joking around — we just bonded," he said. "We clicked so well. On the court, I wasn't really sure what to expect from everybody, but I'm more than glad that we got all the guys that we got."

Cora Hall covers University of Tennessee women’s athletics. Email her at cora.hall@knoxnews.com and follow her on Twitter @corahalll. If you enjoy Cora’s coverage, consider a digital subscription that allows you to access all of it.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Tennessee basketball: Zakai Zeigler embracing veteran role as senior