Zakai Zeigler Named TSWA Men’s Basketball Player of the Year.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee star guard Zakai Zeigler has been named the 2025 Tennessee Sportswriters Association (TSWA) Men’s Basketball Player of the Year” Zeigler received 12 of the 20 votes cast by the TSWA, which considers players from all collegiate levels in Tennessee.” This marks the third time in the past seven years that a Tennessee Volunteer has won the honor.
This marks the third time in the past seven years that a Tennessee Volunteer has won the honor, and the second consecutive season a UT player has claimed the award. Zeigler follows 2024 winner Dalton Knecht and 2019 honoree Grant Williams.
A senior from Long Island, N.Y., Zeigler has firmly etched his name in Tennessee basketball history. Standing just 5-foot-9 and weighing 172 pounds, he defied expectations throughout his collegiate career with his dynamic playmaking, tenacious defense, and leadership. In his final season, Zeigler averaged 13.6 points, 7.4 assists, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.9 steals per game.
Zeigler’s 275 assists in the 2024-25 season shattered the SEC’s single-season record, previously held since 1980. He concluded his career with Tennessee records for both assists (747) and steals (251), which rank third and tied for ninth all-time in the SEC, respectively. His unique combination of scoring, distributing, and defending led him to become the only player in SEC history to accumulate at least 1,500 points, 700 assists, 350 rebounds, and 250 steals.
Nationally, Zeigler earned Third Team All-America honors from all four major outlets. He was ranked seventh on EvanMiya.com’s national player ratings and just missed the top 10 on KenPom.com. Recognized as one of college basketball’s elite defenders, he won SEC Defensive Player of the Year for the second consecutive season, becoming just the third player ever to accomplish that feat.
Zeigler was also a finalist for the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year award and received First Team All-SEC recognition from conference coaches for the second straight year. Additionally, he was named to the NABC First Team All-Central District and the SEC All-Tournament Team.
Under his leadership, Tennessee posted a 30-8 overall record, including a 12-6 mark in SEC play. The Volunteers reached the Elite Eight for the second consecutive season and matched a program best by finishing fifth in the final national rankings. They also spent five weeks ranked No. 1 in the country and notched a school-record seven wins over AP top-15 opponents—four of which were ranked in the top seven at the time.
The TSWA also recognized other outstanding figures in Tennessee college basketball. Chattanooga’s Dan Earl earned TSWA Coach of the Year, while Vanderbilt standout Mikayla Blakes was named Women’s Player of the Year. Union University’s Mark Campbell took home the women’s coaching honor.
Zeigler’s exceptional career and final season leave a lasting legacy at Tennessee and in the SEC, defined by his gritty play, historic numbers, and ability to rise in the game’s biggest moments.
