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T.J. Ford experienced that sensation once more—a sensation he has experienced occasionally since leaving Rick Barnes’ Texas programme in 2003—having won national player of the year awards and having a top-10 pick in the upcoming NBA Draft guaranteed.
I just need to be with him sometimes in my life,” Ford remarked of Barnes. “And basketball has nothing to do with that.”
Ford decided to spend three days in Knoxville instead of with his wife, three children, and the basketball academy in Houston. The December 2022 trip did include a basketball component—two individuals who share a passion for the game will naturally converse about hoops—and Ford enjoyed spending time with Barnes’ Tennessee Volunteers squad. Among the Vols, one stood out in particular, and Barnes wanted to be sure that Vol spent time with Ford.
Regarding Zakai Zeigler, Ford remarked, “That kid is amazing.” He’s capable of it.”
That could mean a lot of things, but Tennessee supporters are hoping that it means Zeigler will become the second point guard to lead a Barnes team to the Final Four, following Ford’s example 21 years ago. That would mean the Vols, who are ranked second in Midwest Region, need to defeat Creighton, who are ranked third, 25–9, on Friday at Little Caesars Arena. They would also need to win another game on Sunday, maybe against Midwest No. 1 seed Purdue.
That certainly holds true for Zeigler’s ability to make it through his upbringing in a variety of Long Island, New York, towns, which included hiding in train car restrooms in order to go to the New Jersey high school that improved his basketball prospects. During the 5-foot-9 junior guard’s adult life, his family’s home was destroyed by fire in 2022 while he was a freshman at Tennessee. This led to an online fundraising approved by the university that raised over $350,000 and the purchase of a new home in Knoxville.
Before the Vols’ practice on Wednesday, Zeigler said, ‘My mom has always wanted to move out of New York, so I felt like God was telling us, ‘This is your chance, I’m gonna break you down, but don’t worry, the build back is gonna be amazing.” “I will never forget the kindness so many people showed us.”
Zeigler got there by betting on himself and declining a take-it-or-leave-it scholarship offer from Saint Peter’s in the summer of 2021. That was made feasible by the platform Tennessee provided. At an AAU event, he sufficiently impressed the UT coaches to receive an offer from Barnes at the end of August. He differs greatly from Ford, a five-star recruit from Houston who passed on Kentucky and other bluebloods in favour of Barnes and Texas.
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