KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The SEC revealed Wednesday evening the results of the preseason voting by the league’s 16 men’s basketball head coaches.
University of Tennessee senior guard Zakai Zeigler reeled in Preseason First Team All-SEC recognition, just as he did in the media balloting.
Zeigler is one of five players on the first team. The other honorees are Auburn’s Johni Broome, Florida’s Walter Clayton Jr., Alabama’s Mark Sears and Texas A&M’s Wade Taylor IV.
Fourteen of the 15 selections across the three teams are identical to the media vote, with the lone change coming on the third team. Texas’ Tre Johnson made the cut in place of Florida’s Alex Condon.
Zeigler, who hails from Long Island, N.Y., averaged 11.8 points, 6.1 assists, 2.8 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game during a stellar junior season in 2023-24. He shot 34.4 percent from deep and posted a 2.79/1 assist-to-turnover ratio, while helping the Volunteers win the SEC regular season title, reach the Elite Eight and finish fifth in the national polls.
A First Team All-SEC choice and SEC Defensive Player of the Year designee from the league’s coaches last year, Zeigler has loaded up on plaudits entering the 2024-25 campaign. He was named a Preseason All-American by both the Blue Ribbon Yearbook (second team) and ESPN’s Jay Bilas (third team), made the Bob Cousy Award Top 20 Preseason Top 20 Watch List and is among the Naismith Trophy Preseason Watch List designees.
Zeigler and No. 12 Tennessee start the regular season Monday at Food City Center, with a 7 p.m. matchup against Gardner-Webb, live on SEC Network+.
To keep up with the University of Tennessee men’s basketball team on social media, follow @Vol_Hoops on Instagram and X/Twitter, as well as /tennesseebasketball on Facebook.
Preseason First Team All-SEC
Johni Broome – Auburn
Walter Clayton Jr. – Florida
Mark Sears – Alabama
Wade Taylor IV – Texas A&M
Zakai Zeigler – Tennessee
Preseason Second Team All-SEC
Jonas Aidoo – Arkansas
Johnell Davis – Arkansas
Josh Hubbard – Mississippi State
Matthew Murrell – Ole Miss
Grant Nelson – Alabama
Third Team All-SEC
Chad Baker-Mazara – Auburn
Alex Condon – Florida
Tramon Mark – Texas
Collin Murray-Boyles – South Carolina
Jaxson Robinson – Kentucky
Preseason SEC Player of the Year
Mark Sears – Alabama
