My name is Zakai Zeigler and I play point guard for the University of Tennessee. Throughout October, GoFundMe is hosting a College Charity Challenge to show the power of giving on college campuses nationwide. I hope you'll join me in this challenge by donating to The Hydrocephalus Association.
Supporting the Hydrocephalus Association is important to me because two of my nephews suffer from hydrocephalus, along with over 140 million people worldwide. While there is currently no known way to prevent or cure hydrocephalus, there are three life-saving treatment options that require brain surgery, which can be very costly. Both of my nephews have had this surgery. I ask you to join me in donating money so more families can benefit from these life-saving surgeries just like my nephews have.
More about The Hydrocephalus Association:
The mission of the Hydrocephalus Association is to promote a cure for hydrocephalus and improve the lives of those affected by the condition. This will be accomplished by collaborating with patients, caregivers, researchers, medical professionals and industry, raising awareness and funding innovative, high-impact research to prevent, treat, and ultimately, cure hydrocephalus.
More about Zakai:
Zakai is a freshman standout from Long Island, New York … and Knoxville’s newest darling on and off the court.
Tennessee Basketball is no stranger to top talent from the New York City area, including Naismith Hall of Famer Bernard King , Ernie Grunfeld, Howard Wood, Tobias Harris and Kevin Punter Jr. - and now Zakai is added to that esteemed list of Tennessee greats.
Zakai graduated from Our Saviour Lutheran School in The Bronx, but he played the 2020-21 season with Immaculate Conception High School in Montclair, New Jersey, averaging 20 points and 4.6 assists per game. He played his AAU ball with the New York Lightning program in the EYBL and played football growing up - playing running back, quarterback and safety.
He had a breakout showing in six games at the 2021 Peach Jam, averaging 15.3 points and 5.5 assists per game while boasting a 4.7 assist-to-turnover ratio; he also connected on 50 percent of his 3-point attempts. The Season Ticket named Zeigler’s showing against Team Final as the “Best Performance” of the 2021 Peach Jam.
Zakai was awarded the JoNelda & Sidney Blalock Athletic Scholarship Endowment.
Highlights so far at UT include:
- Making his first career start, scored 11 points and a had a team-high four assists in 27 minutes at Alabama (12/29).
- Exploded for a career-high and team-leading 18 points on 7-for-10 shooting—including 3-for-5 from 3-point range—in the win over North Carolina (11/21/21). Also had five assists and did not commit a turnover in 28 minutes of action.
- 2022 SEC All-Defensive Team.
- 2022 SEC All-Freshman Team.
- Led the SEC in steals.
- Member of the 2022 SEC Tournament Championship Team.
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