By Alec Millender

Sports Capital Journalism Program

INDIANAPOLIS — When Zakai Zeigler first arrived on the University of Tennessee campus in 2021, he was a lightly recruited, undersized combo guard that many believed would redshirt his freshman year. Even Rick Barnes and his staff initially thought the same. But two weeks into practice, Barnes knew they had something special. “We thought we were going to redshirt him,” Barnes said. “He changed that real quick and made an incredible impact.”

Now, four seasons later, Zeigler, a 5-foot-9 senior, is not only Tennessee’s all-time leader in assists but also first in steals, third in assists per game, tied fourth in all-time wins (109), sixth in games played (137), and sixth in minutes played. He’s started 82 games under Barnes and played in all but one game this season — a lone absence due to injury. As the Volunteers prepared for a Midwest Regional championship game that could send them to the Final Four for the first time, they were led by a player that has come a long way from that undersized freshman who wasn’t even a true point guard.

Zeigler’s transformation is one of the greatest stories in Tennessee basketball history, and at the heart of it is the bond he shares with his — a relationship rooted in honesty, patience, and mutual respect.

“I was never really a point guard,” Zeigler said. “Coming into college, I just knew how to score. But Coach Barnes believed in me and gave me the keys. He gave me trust, and for someone like me, that means the world. My mom still calls me about it all the time. She says she’s so thankful. And I am too. I can’t even put it into words.”

Zeigler credits a lot of his growth to simply watching — especially during his injury when he sat on the sidelines and studied the game. “That was when I started to really understand what it meant to be a point guard,” he said. “I watched Coach. I watched how he wanted guys to get to their spots, what kind of shots he was trying to get us. It helped me become a leader.”

And that leadership hasn’t gone unnoticed.

“Some days we get along, some days we don’t,” Barnes said with a smile. “But the best teams are the ones that are coached by the players. Zakai knows what I expect. He knows when I’m not happy. And if he doesn’t step up, he’s going to hear it. But that’s the standard. That’s the responsibility you earn when you become a leader.”

Barnes doesn’t sugarcoat it — he’s hard on his players. But he’s also transparent, consistent, and deeply invested in their lives beyond basketball. And for Zeigler, that’s what makes the difference.

“People ask about his coaching style,” Zeigler said. “It’s not even really a style — it’s more like having a dad. He treats us like his kids. He’s always honest. He’s never lied to me. And that’s all I ever wanted. He took a chance on me, and it changed my life.”

Barnes, now a Hall of Fame head coach, has built a culture at Tennessee based on high character and fit — not hype.

“I’ve always said in recruiting, there are enough players for all of us,” Barnes said. “You just have to find the ones that fit your personality and your system. And Zakai, he fits us perfectly. He’s going to go down as one of the all-time favorite Volunteers because of the way he’s gone about his business every single day.”

Their story isn’t just about basketball. It’s about belief. About patience. About a young man growing into himself and a coach who saw the potential in him before the rest of the world did.

From an undersized scorer to one of the best point guards in the country, Zakai Zeigler has grown into a Tennessee legend. And behind every assist, every steal, and every win, there’s the trust of a coach who never wavered and the voice of a leader who found his way.