Rick Barnes, the head coach of Tennessee, makes a very touching statement regarding Vols guard Zakai Zeigler.
On Wednesday night, Rick Barnes, the head basketball coach of the Tennessee Vols, made a remarkable statement regarding UT senior player Zakai Zeigler.
In the Vols’ 74-56 victory over the Georgia Bulldogs in Knoxville on Wednesday, Zeigler recorded 16 points, seven assists, six steals, two rebounds, and a block.
Following the game, Barnes described Zeigler to reporters as a “comfort blanket” and referred to the New York native as one of the best Volunteers in history.
“You know, Zakai has been an incredible blessing for me, personally,” stated Barnes. “I recall seeing him play once during the final week of the summer while I was in high school. His story is probably well known, but what he does, what you guys witness, and what you guys who attend practice, he does it every single day. He’s just like that. It’s in his DNA. And having a guy like that as a coach is truly a blessing. He can be very hard on himself and competitive at times. To be honest, though, I’m not sure how I would manage without him. He’s my comfort blanket, really. He truly is.
“I’ve always believed a point guard is like a quarterback, you got to let them get a feel while they’re out there and very few guys can do what he does, the way he impacts the game on both ends of the court,” said Barnes. “How hard he [plays] and his defense.” But once more, having him here is a blessing. And when you consider his thefts and all of those kinds of things, it makes sense that he has done what he has. He has been one of the best Volunteers ever. I’m telling you, his work and the manner he approaches it each day are simply astounding.”
When Zeigler joined with Tennessee as a three-star recruit in 2021, he was a last-minute addition, as most Vols fans are aware.
However, Zeigler has been the driving force behind the Tennessee basketball program for the past few years. He will be remembered as one of the most significant players in Tennessee basketball history in addition to being one of the Vols’ greatest fan favorites.
Former Tennessee standouts Josh Dobbs and Jauan Jennings, who were never predicted to be all-time greats, are in the same echelons of the Vols as Zeigler.
