Zakai Zeigler is getting another crack at the NBA stage.
The former Tennessee guard, who spent four seasons with the Volunteers, has landed with the San Antonio Spurs for summer league action after a season overseas with Nanterre 92 in France. It’s the latest chance for one of the most decorated recent Vols to put himself back in front of NBA decision-makers.
Zeigler’s Tennessee run made him one of the program’s most recognizable players in recent memory. He finished his Vols career after leading the team in assists and bringing a steady scoring touch, but his defense was always the calling card. For many, he was the best defender in the country.
His path after college has already been a winding one. Zeigler went undrafted in the NBA Draft, then earned a summer league opportunity before eventually signing in France. Now, after that year with Nanterre 92, he’s back in the mix with a different team and a new opening to prove he belongs.
The Spurs will also be giving looks to two other former Tennessee players, Igor Milicic Jr. and Ja'Kobi Gillespie. San Antonio drafted Gillespie in the second round, so he is already locked in with the team, while Zeigler and Milicic Jr. will be trying to turn this chance in the California Classic into something more permanent.
That means there’s real opportunity here for both players to make a case for an NBA roster spot or at least position themselves for an NBA G-League landing spot. It’s a familiar road for former Vol Kennedy Chandler, who went through a similar process before landing with the Jazz last season and then taking off.
Zeigler and the Spurs are set to open their slate on Friday evening, giving Tennessee fans another reason to tune in.
In Other News...
Tennessee Insider Sparks Big Debate Over Vols Chase For Elite In-State RB
The race for David Gabriel Georges has become one of the more closely watched recruiting stories of the summer, and Tennessee is right in the middle of it. The highly rated 2027 running back has already taken official visits to Ohio State, Tennessee and Ole Miss, with the Buckeyes and Vols now widely viewed as the primary contenders as he nears a decision.
What has turned the conversation up another notch is the debate around what Tennessee should be willing to do to land him. Some around the sport see Georges as the kind of in-state talent worth pushing hard for, while others are openly wondering whether the Vols would be wiser to use their NIL resources at other premium spots on the roster. With a commitment expected on July 22, the recruiting stakes are high and the discussion is only getting louder. [Read more 🡒]
Josh Heupel Just Earned Huge SEC Praise As Tennessee Faces One Big Question
Josh Heupel keeps earning recognition for the part of Tennessee football that has defined his tenure, with Matrix Analytical recently slotting him as the SECs top offensive play caller. It is another reminder of how much the Volunteers have leaned into his system, and why the program still carries real confidence on that side of the ball as it moves toward the 2026 season.
The bigger issue is what comes next under center. Tennessee will open fall camp in August with a quarterback room still trying to sort itself out, and while the schedule brings the usual mix of nonconference tests and a nine-game SEC slate, the Vols ceiling will likely depend on how quickly that competition settles. Heupel has already pointed to the growth and daily response he has seen from the group, but the answer is still waiting to be written. [Read more 🡒]