A road which had constant thorns in its path, and yet Zakai Zeigler chose to walk on it! The story of the 22-year-old is not only about the struggle on hardwood, but the problems started when he was an infant. As per reports, the doctors told his mother that the Tennessee Volunteers star had a spinal condition that would prevent him from walking. At the time, Charmane Zeigler was 4 months pregnant when she got the news. Even though the Long Island native was born five weeks early, there were no signs of any spinal condition.
“She always calls me her golden child. I guess I am superhuman for real.” The Vols star spoke to the Knoxville News last year. Apart from this, he also suffered from asthma issues for the first few years, but that dream of hooping never disappeared. Now in his senior year with Tennessee, he hopes to bring a title to the program. Apart from on-court success, he has a pretty successful off-court venture, thanks to NIL.
What are Zakai Zeigler’s NIL deals as of 2025?
The 2x SEC DPOY has NIL with brands like The Dairy Alliance, The Players’ Lounge, Spyre Sports Group, Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers, and RITZ Crackers, according to his On3 page. The most recent one for the three-star recruit was a deal with Under Armour at the start of March 2025 and Raising Cane’s in February. As per on3, the amount involved in the deal isn’t available on the website. But his potential rank among other players is visible.
In terms of NIL valuations of only point guards in the top 100 category, the Vols star is #57. The 5-10 star also signed a NIL deal with Spyre Sports Group which is a sports marketing and media agency based in Tennessee. So, more than a decent stack of deals for the 22-year-old in his resume. But what about his journey before signing for the Volunteers?
Which high school did Zakai Zeigler attend?
Before enrolling with Tennessee, Kai was a three-star recruit, and Coach Barnes took a chance on him. Kai, as he is affectionately called, used to travel four hours in order to improve his basketball skills. He would attend Immaculate Conception High School in New Jersey. Later, he moved to Our Saviour Lutheran School in the Bronx. There, he stood out with an average of 20.3 points and 4.6 assists per game. But that was not the only sport he played in.
Zakai Zeigler also played football in High School, where he played running back, quarterback, and safety positions. During his senior year, he would take huge strides in his basketball career, as he put on a show in the 2021 Peach Jam. There, he averaged 15.3 points and 5.5 assists per game, which led to recognition and scholarship offers from multiple programs.
Minnesota, Manhattan, New Mexico State, Southern Illinois, and a few more threw in the offer. But the 22-year-old set his heart with the Vols.
What is Zakai Zeigler’s net worth in 2025? How much does he make in a year?
The post Zakai Zeigler Net Worth, NIL Value, and High School Stats: Exploring Tennessee Star’s Earnings and Early Life appeared first on EssentiallySports.