After losing home to fire, Tennessee guard Zakai Zeigler gets thousands from Vol Nation
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (BVM) – The power of a dedicated fan base cannot be understated. While most times this impacts the game day atmosphere for the home team by giving them an advantage with noise against the opponents, in some cases fans can rally around their program and its players off the playing field as well. That was the case early in March when the University of Tennessee fanbase, known as Vol Nation, rose to the occasion to help a Volunteer men’s basketball player in need.
On Feb. 27, the family home of Volunteers freshman Zakai Zeigler in Long Beach, New York, burned down. The loss was immeasurable as the family not only lost its home, but also vital accessibility equipment including a wheelchair and splints for Zeigler’s 4-year-old nephew, Nori, who has special needs.
#VolNation — tonight’s outpouring of support for Zakai and his family, though not surprising, has been incredible.
We will have more details tomorrow on how you can help. But in the meantime, please continue to share your love with Zakai 🧡
— Tennessee Basketball (@Vol_Hoops) March 2, 2022
Quickly after publicly announcing the situation during the broadcast of the Vols game against Georgia on March 1, the Tennessee Athletics program announced a GoFundMe for Zeigler and his family to help them get back on their feet.
Here's where to donate, #VolNation.
Thank you for your support and care for the Zeigler Family!https://t.co/JfoSUQ21lg
— Tennessee Basketball (@Vol_Hoops) March 2, 2022
With an initial goal of $50,000, the family was just hoping for a bit of support as they looked to make the adjustment in their life. What they received instead was a tidal wave of support, both financially and emotionally, from the entirety of Vol Nation. To date, the fundraiser has raised a whopping $363,027 through over 5,600 donations for Zeigler’s family.
“It meant everything. I didn’t even expect the support to be that much, I know everyone got love for me but after that it just blew me and my family away,” Zeigler said during a March 7 press conference. “I’ve got nothing but great words about Vol Nation.”
The outpouring of support has been unbelievable! We’ll get through this. All love, #VolNation!! https://t.co/OAdsYy6w6S
— Zakai Zeigler (@Realzakaiz) March 2, 2022
After initially watching the donations closely, Zeigler said he had stopped refreshing the page to let it sit a bit. After a text from a friend to check the fundraiser’s progress, Zeigler was shocked.
“I looked back and I was like, ‘What the? It’s at the goal already,’” Zeigler said. “I was not expecting it to be like that. My eyes were just lit up…I was just like, ‘Is this real?’ I kept refreshing it by swiping up the page because I was like there’s no way this is real right now. Words couldn’t even explain how I was feeling.”
With his family now staying in the Knoxville area with the freshman, they were all able to enjoy the moment together.
“I was at a loss for words, I still am,” Zeigler said. “[My mom] was just shocked and overwhelmed. She was just so thankful and blessed. She didn’t want to say ‘OK I expected this.’ She walked over to me every five minutes crying. I didn’t cry with her, one time away from her but not with her.”
While it isn’t a surprise that Vol Nation would show out for one of their own, to do so for Zeigler is an awesome show of dedication. Zeigler is a freshman who has only started one game so far for the Vols while averaging 8.8 points, 2.5 assists and 2.2 rebounds across 30 games played. Though it might be expected for the Volunteer faithful to raise this amount of money for a player like sixth-year member John Fulkerson, the fact they’d do it for someone who has only been a member of the school for a handful of months is incredible and something that head coach Rick Barnes isn’t shocked by.
“I think that we talk about the spirit and what our fans bring to our games, whether it’s basketball, football, baseball, women’s softball, women’s basketball, whatever it may be, we talk about Vol Nation being what it is, but I think what they did just shows you it runs a lot deeper than that,” Barnes said during a press conference on March 4. “I think they saw what happened to him and certainly said they want to step up and do our part. I think it speaks volumes to anybody that contributed to helping him.”
Zeigler said that any contributions that exceed the family’s total losses and expenses will be donated to charity. The family is still determining which charity or charities to donate to, according to Zeigler.
With the NCAA Tournament just around the corner, Zeigler’s story will be one that will touch many nationally during the event, giving the freshman even more support. Thanks to Vol Nation, Zeigler and his family will be able to make it through the difficult situation and Tennessee fans have earned themselves a little more love come March Madness.
