Zakai Zeigler was ready to quit basketball.
He worked tirelessly to improve his game. He went from one rugged playground to another in New York City to play hoops. He shot basket after basket in the rain.
But entering his junior year of high school, colleges had no interest in the diminutive point guard.
“I didn’t truly love the game of basketball,’’ Ziegler said. “I was on the verge of quitting.”
“I put so much work in and I was taking all these trains and buses and traveling for hours trying to be a better basketball player. And I’m like, `Man, I ain’t even got an offer from college. What am I doing?’ I’m like, `I’m done with this. I don’t want to play no more.’ I was ready to give it all away, just give it up.’’
All that changed when Zeigler and his AAU team played in the Peach Jam in Atlanta prior to his senior season.
Zeigler was outstanding in his first game against talented competition. His AAU coach said: “Your life is about to change.’’
Still, no offers.
Zeigler continued to excel at the event and his attitude changed.
“I just fell in love with the game again,’’ Zeigler said during a recent interview at the Big Orange Tip-Off Club. “I can’t let it go.’’
Soon after, Tennessee made an offer.
Zeigler was in disbelief. He was headed to a prep school. Or maybe a lower-level program.
But now, he had a chance to play at an upper-tier SEC school.
“I just started getting chills,’’ Zeigler said when informed of the Vols’ offer. “I need to go and visit ASAP.’’
Zeigler made the visit, signed with Tennessee, and has become one of the school’s all-time best point guards. He has the Tennessee career record for steals and is closing in on the career mark for assists.
He has made All-SEC twice and been named the SEC Defensive Player of the Year, quite a feat for someone who stands 5-foot-9 on a good day.
Former Vol Dane Bradshaw has proclaimed that Zeigler is already the most popular UT basketball player in history — a compliment Zeigler downplays.
But he is appreciative of the Vol Nation: “Being at Tennessee is the best decision I ever made in my life.’’
Before Zeigler landed in Knoxville for his official visit, he didn’t know where the city was. He said New Yorkers told jokes about folks from Tennessee.
So what did he expect to see in Knoxville?
“Windmills and cornfields,’’ he said.
Instead, he found a basketball program on the rise and a community that showed unconditional love.
In February of Zeigler’s freshman season, after a win over Auburn, he learned that his Long Island apartment where he grew up had burned. His mother, sister, and brother were living there.
Tennessee started a GoFundMe page. It hit $5,000 within 10 minutes. It soon ballooned to over $100,000.
“My Mom (Charmane Zeigler) called me crying,’’ Zeigler said. “We never had people that cared about me and my family that much… It was a tragedy, but it was a blessing in disguise.’’
A blessing because the GoFundMe efforts raised $363,000 – enough for Zeigler’s family to move to Knoxville.
“It was crazy,’’ he said.
Was Zeigler as emotional as his Mom?
“I definitely was,’’ he said, “but by myself.’’
Charmane Zeigler had always wanted to move away from New York City. Zakai didn’t share that desire. But he didn’t admit after the outpouring of support: “I’m from New York, but my home is in Tennessee.’’
While Zeigler has had a terrific career at Tennessee, he’s had to endure playing the position that solicits the most demands from Coach Rick Barnes. Has Barnes been tough on Zeigler?
“Yes, but I think I got him figured out,’’ Zeigler said. “He might get on me and yell at me but it’s not being mean to me. Him yelling at me is a good thing because that shows he cares about me. He wants me to get better. If he’s not saying a word to me, I get worried.’’
Barnes wasn’t the first to admonish Zeigler. His Mom did as well.
“I could have a 30-point, 10-assist game (in high school) and she’d say, `Oh, you had a turnover,’’’ Zeigler said. “So this is a piece of cake.’’
Barnes has heaped lavish praise on Zeigler this season, saying Zeigler is his “comfort blanket’’ and he might not still be coaching if not for Zeigler.
“The fact that he has that much trust in me and believes in me that much,’’ Zeigler said, “it means a lot.’’
Zeigler said it was a blessing to be on the Tennessee team that won the SEC his freshman year and to make the Elite Eight last year for the second time in program history. But Zeigler wants more.
“It’s crazy to say, but when we didn’t make the Final Four (last year), it’s like, `Man, we underachieved,’’’ Zeigler said. “The standard we hold ourselves to is the Final Four.’’
Zeigler played his last home game in a Tennessee uniform during Saturday’s 75-65 victory over South Carolina. Zeigler wasn’t bothered that he scored just one point on Senior Day.
Instead, he soaked up the moment, with his parents and siblings in attendance. He gave Barnes a huge bear hug and lifted Barnes off the ground.
When Zeigler addressed the fans after the game, the man of few words cleared his throat, looked into the stands, and had this succinct message:
“I love you guys, simple as that.’’
The feeling among the UT fans is mutual.