Tennessee guard Zakai Zeigler tore his ACL during the Volunteers' 75-57 win over Arkansas on Tuesday, the program announced in a Wednesday afternoon statement. He is out for the season.
“The Tennessee basketball family joins all of Vol Nation in lifting up Zakai with love and support,” the statement read. “We know—beyond all doubt—that Zakai will use this challenge to author an inspiring comeback story.
Zeigler sustained the non-contact injury just 2:54 into Tennessee's game against the Razorbacks, falling to the ground with the Volunteers leading 4-0.
The Long Island native is the third-leading scorer on a 22-8 team, averaging 10.7 points per game. His 5.4 assists per game lead the SEC, and he was named a semifinalist for the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Award.
As a freshman, Zeigler averaged 8.8 points per game primarily in a bench role. He was named to the SEC's All-Defense and All-Freshman teams in 2022.