Zakai Zeigler’s Historic Rise: Tennessee’s Star Claims Bob Cousy and Midseason Wooden Awards in 2025

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — In a year filled with memorable moments across the college basketball landscape, few have stood taller—despite standing just 5-foot-9—than Zakai Zeigler. The University of Tennessee guard has captured national attention with his sensational play, culminating in a historic dual accomplishment: winning the prestigious 2025 Bob Cousy Award as the nation’s top point guard, and the Midseason Wooden Award, which recognizes the most outstanding player in college basketball.

In doing so, Zeigler has solidified his place not only in Tennessee Volunteers lore but also in college basketball history. His fiery leadership, elite court vision, and relentless defensive intensity made him a force of nature throughout the 2024-25 season, a campaign that has quickly become one of the most celebrated individual seasons in program history.

First awarded in 2004, the Bob Cousy Award annually honors the nation’s premier point guard—a player who embodies the spirit, skill, and leadership demonstrated by the legendary Boston Celtics icon. Past winners include names like Jameer Nelson, Kemba Walker, Trey Burke, and Ja Morant—athletes who went on to make significant impacts at the next level.

For Zakai Zeigler, winning the Cousy Award represents the culmination of years of relentless work and overcoming adversity. A former three-star recruit from Long Island, New York, Zeigler entered Tennessee in 2021 with minimal fanfare compared to the five-star prospects littered across SEC rosters. But what he lacked in height and hype, he more than made up for with heart, hustle, and an unmatched drive to improve.

“Zakai is the ultimate competitor,” Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes said after the award announcement. “He’s the heartbeat of our team. The way he leads, the way he defends, the way he elevates everyone around him—he deserves every bit of this recognition.”

Zeigler averaged an astounding 8.7 assists per game this season, leading the SEC and ranking second nationally. His ability to control the tempo of the game, set up teammates, and take over when necessary made him indispensable to a Tennessee team that hovered near the top of the national rankings all year.

Perhaps most impressively, Zeigler paired his offensive brilliance with tenacious defense, routinely drawing the opponent’s top guard assignment and setting the tone with relentless ball pressure. His 2.6 steals per game also led the SEC and ranked among the top five nationally.

While the Bob Cousy Award recognizes a player’s excellence as a point guard, the John R. Wooden Award—named after the legendary UCLA coach—goes to the best overall player in college basketball. The Midseason Wooden Award, awarded halfway through the season, often foreshadows the eventual winner and shines a spotlight on the campaign’s true superstars.

For Zeigler to claim this honor in January 2025 speaks volumes about the impact he has made on the national stage.

Through the first half of the season, Zeigler led Tennessee to a sparkling 18-2 record, averaging 17.2 points, 8.7 assists, and 2.6 steals per contest while shooting 44% from three-point range. His clutch performances against top opponents, including a 24-point, 12-assist masterpiece against then-No. 2 Kansas and a 10-steal outing against SEC rival Kentucky, became must-watch moments across college basketball.

“He’s doing things that you just don’t see,” ESPN analyst Jay Bilas said during a midseason broadcast. “He controls games without dominating the ball. He leads without yelling. He’s the purest example of a floor general we’ve seen in years.”

Zeigler’s recognition also helped shine a national spotlight on Tennessee basketball, which has continued to surge under Barnes’ leadership. The Volunteers’ potent mix of experience, talent, and toughness—embodied by their star point guard—made them legitimate Final Four contenders as the season moved into its second half.

What makes Zakai Zeigler’s achievements even more remarkable is the adversity he has overcome.

In March 2023, Zeigler suffered a devastating ACL injury just days before the SEC Tournament. His season ended abruptly, and questions swirled about whether he would ever regain his elite quickness and defensive prowess. Many doubted whether the 5-foot-9 dynamo could recover physically and mentally from such a significant setback.

But if there’s one thing anyone who knows Zeigler learned, it’s that doubting him is a mistake.

With the help of Tennessee’s top-notch medical and training staff, Zeigler attacked rehab with the same intensity he shows on the court. By October 2023, he was not only back but better—stronger, quicker, and even more polished.

“I had no choice,” Zeigler said in a recent interview. “There were days when it was hard, no doubt. But I knew I owed it to my team, to my family, and to myself to come back stronger.”

That mentality fueled a spectacular comeback season that now has him squarely in the conversation for the full Wooden Award at season’s end—and possibly even as a first-round pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.

Zeigler’s dual awards place him in rarified air at the University of Tennessee, a program rich in tradition but still chasing its first men’s basketball national title. Previous Volunteer legends like Allan Houston, Dale Ellis, and Ernie Grunfeld left indelible marks on the program, but Zeigler’s impact feels unique.

He embodies the underdog spirit that Tennessee fans have always cherished, yet plays with the flair and brilliance that demands national respect.

His name now joins the likes of Candace Parker—who won national player of the year honors while leading Tennessee’s women’s team to championships—as figures who transcended the sport in Knoxville.

“It’s bigger than just awards for Zakai,” Coach Barnes said. “He’s setting a standard for what it means to be a Tennessee Volunteer.”

Already this season, Zeigler broke the school’s single-season assist record and surpassed 500 career assists, milestones that speak to his sustained excellence across four years in the orange and white.

As the 2025 NCAA Tournament looms, Tennessee finds itself among the favorites to make a deep run, thanks in large part to Zeigler’s brilliance.

The Vols’ balanced attack—featuring Zeigler orchestrating the offense, sharpshooter Dalton Knecht stretching the floor, and defensive anchor Jonas Aidoo patrolling the paint—has made them a nightmare matchup for opponents.

For Zeigler, the ultimate goal remains clear: cutting down the nets in April.

“Everything else is nice—the awards, the recognition,” he said. “But the goal since Day One has been to win a national championship. That’s what we’re chasing.”

If Tennessee can capture that elusive title, Zakai Zeigler’s 2025 season won’t just be remembered as one of the best in school history—it will be remembered as one of the greatest stories in college basketball.