ZZ SEC Player of the Week

[scores4fun]

SEC Player of the Week

Zakai Zeigler, Tennessee
Zeigler, a 5-foot-9, 171-pound sophomore from Long Island, N.Y., averaged 16.5 points, 8.5 assists, 3.0 steals and 2.5 rebounds in wins over Georgia and No. 10 Texas. He recorded his third-career double-double with 22 points and a career-high-tying 10 assists in the win over Texas. Via scoring and assists, accounted for 45 of Tennessee's 82 points against the Longhorns. His performance was just the seventh time in program history that a player had 20 or more points and 10 or more assists in a game. Zeigler led the Vols in scoring and assists against Georgia with 11 points and seven assists-accounting for 25 total points in the winning effort. Also recorded four steals on the defensive end.

 

[Caculator]

Proud of you Z!

 

[GoVols9800]

Heart and soul of this team IMO. His only really rough game came against KY and we know how that turned out.

 

[cwbytruckers]

Little Big Man on Campus.

 

[WillisWG]

Yeah he is...

 

[GUNTERSVOL]

My how times have changed from his early days....

cncchris33 said:
Basilio saying that Ziegler is the best offensive player on the team (not entirely sure I buy that, but maybe). Says he’s an awful defender, at this point, however, which is likely to keep him from much playing time.

On the other hand here was Coach's early projections....

on Oct 8, 2021 Special Ed provided the following......

Two quotes from Rick tell me all I need to know about why ZZ was added to the roster:
"He's as impressive as anyone I've ever seen." (Considering how long Barnes has been involved in basketball and everything he's seen, that statement carries a lot of weight.)

and

"Our fans are going to love him."
'nuff said!

And of course one brilliant fan's early analysis....

Aug 29, 2021
GUNTERSVOL
VOL FROM BIRTH

Obviously a signing of opportunity not desperation. This early entry gets him into the program, fills a defensive need we had no answer for with speed guards, and if nothing else can provide a scout team guy for us to practice against that is hard to come by. It is unusual for a guy this size to be an impact, but not impossible if his speed is real and his accuracy transfer to the P5 level.... Time will tell. The kid has moxie and I will be watching with interest. He adds speed at the point we did not have to go with some guys that do at all the other positions.

OK OK, Everybody gets lucky every once in a while. I do think he has crossed the impact threshold. Just had faith in Coach taking a shot.

 

[VolBricks]

ZZ really gets the crowd going. I am glad he is on our team.

 

[kyvol98]

Type of kid EVERYONE loves...... until you gotta play him.

 

[SonOfGodVolforlife]

SEC Player of the Week

Zakai Zeigler, Tennessee
Zeigler, a 5-foot-9, 171-pound sophomore from Long Island, N.Y., averaged 16.5 points, 8.5 assists, 3.0 steals and 2.5 rebounds in wins over Georgia and No. 10 Texas. He recorded his third-career double-double with 22 points and a career-high-tying 10 assists in the win over Texas. Via scoring and assists, accounted for 45 of Tennessee's 82 points against the Longhorns. His performance was just the seventh time in program history that a player had 20 or more points and 10 or more assists in a game. Zeigler led the Vols in scoring and assists against Georgia with 11 points and seven assists-accounting for 25 total points in the winning effort. Also recorded four steals on the defensive end.

Z is turning into one of my all time favorite vols!! Not up there with lofton yet but he may end up there by the time his career is over in terms of mg personal favorite vols !!

 

[Briscovol]

He is not a kid but a real man

 

[pimo1]

Z is turning into one of my all time favorite vols!! Not up there with lofton yet but he may end up there by the time his career is over in terms of mg personal favorite vols !!

My favorites are probably a tossup between Grant and Allan Houston. What ZZ is to me is proof of is Barnes' Ability to scout and develop talent. It seems like every player on this time develops. some a lot more than other but I can't think of anyone regressing. High-ranked guys tend to do okay, but its the mid-ranked or low-ranked guys that stay in the system that you see blossom. And they all seem to actually like each other. If Phillips stays another year he will blossom. Edwards is the one that confuses me... is there just not room in the rotation for him yet? Or is he just not buying in? I am actually excited to see what he does next year. Because honestly if I showed you what Uros has become for this team (an important roleplayer), before last season, people would have laughed. Its not just the guys the ball out its all the guys he finds ways to make them into contributors.

 

[SonOfGodVolforlife]

My favorites are probably a tossup between Grant and Allan Houston. What ZZ is to me is proof of is Barnes' Ability to scout and develop talent. It seems like every player on this time develops. some a lot more than other but I can't think of anyone regressing. High-ranked guys tend to do okay, but it’s the mid-ranked or low-ranked guys that stay in the system that you see blossom. And they all seem to actually like each other. If Phillips stays another year he will blossom. Edwards is the one that confuses me... is there just not room in the rotation for him yet? Or is he just not buying in? I am actually excited to see what he does next year. Because honestly if I showed you what Uros has become for this team (an important roleplayer), before last season, people would have laughed. It’s not just the guys the ball out it’s all the guys he finds ways to make them into contributors.

l think with edwards it’s a case of he just hasn’t came into his own yet in college, and Rick Barnes just doesn’t feel comfortable putting him in bc he may think it’s to much for edwards right now?? But like you said Barnes knows how to develop these players and make them better so I could see him being a contributor next season with Santi being gone.!! I never got to see Allan Houston play sadly, I do love me some grant Williams tho, that guy has transformed his game to fit the nba style and that shows you the intelligence he possesses and the hard work he puts in! Bc I don’t remember the dude ever shooting 3s n college lol

 

[feathersax]

ZZ is an exciting basketball player & more...he's a young man who makes his teammates better.

 

[TNBV]

My favorites are probably a tossup between Grant and Allan Houston. What ZZ is to me is proof of is Barnes' Ability to scout and develop talent. It seems like every player on this time develops. some a lot more than other but I can't think of anyone regressing. High-ranked guys tend to do okay, but its the mid-ranked or low-ranked guys that stay in the system that you see blossom. And they all seem to actually like each other. If Phillips stays another year he will blossom. Edwards is the one that confuses me... is there just not room in the rotation for him yet? Or is he just not buying in? I am actually excited to see what he does next year. Because honestly if I showed you what Uros has become for this team (an important roleplayer), before last season, people would have laughed. Its not just the guys the ball out its all the guys he finds ways to make them into contributors.

Who's minutes would you have expected Edwards to take? The only possibility I see would be Mashack, and I doubt he can outplay him defensively (system knowledge or athletically). I would not expect that he could be trusted offensively (or defensively) to take any time away from Santi, Key or Z. I am not sure anything negative can be assumed about his play based on he fact he has not made his way onto the court considering we are the number 2 team in the nation and he was playing HS basketball 9 months ago. I may be wrong but I believe once Z established himself as a true top tier point, the plan for Edwards lost it's urgency. Next year he will come in with a full year + of having Z defend him in practice, college strength coaching and acclamation to Barnes BB.

 

[Memvol44]

My favorites are probably a tossup between Grant and Allan Houston. What ZZ is to me is proof of is Barnes' Ability to scout and develop talent. It seems like every player on this time develops. some a lot more than other but I can't think of anyone regressing. High-ranked guys tend to do okay, but its the mid-ranked or low-ranked guys that stay in the system that you see blossom. And they all seem to actually like each other. If Phillips stays another year he will blossom. Edwards is the one that confuses me... is there just not room in the rotation for him yet? Or is he just not buying in? I am actually excited to see what he does next year. Because honestly if I showed you what Uros has become for this team (an important roleplayer), before last season, people would have laughed. Its not just the guys the ball out its all the guys he finds ways to make them into contributors.

We're you around when Dale Ellis was carrying the Vols? Or Bernard King was the best college player in the country?

 

[Schasz]

Zakai plays hard on both end of the court. He was an outstanding late find a couple summers ago by CRB. Well deserved award!!!

 

[pimo1]

We're you around when Dale Ellis was carrying the Vols? Or Bernard King was the best college player in the country?

Oftentimes favorite does not always mean the best. I just enjoyed watching those guys play more than others same with ZZ.