NCAA Basketball: Top 10 players to wear jersey No. 5 in 2023-24 season

3. Zakai Zeigler (Tennessee)

Every team needs a talented point guard and that’s just what Zeigler has been for Tennessee these last three years. The Volunteers really regretted losing him when he missed the postseason as a sophomore but he was back with vengeance as a junior. Not only did Zeigler continue to improve as a player, he was also one of the main cogs in the best season in recent memory for the Volunteers program.

Zeigler remained a dynamic weapon on both sides of the court, averaging 11.8 points and 6.1 assists per game. While others would be depended on more for scoring, Zeigler led the SEC in assists for a second straight season, racked up the steals, and impacted the game all over. Not only did he notch First Team All-SEC honors, he was also given SEC Defensive Player of the Year. He had great steals numbers, racked up the defensive pressure constantly, and helped take Tennessee to the Elite Eight.

In a season that involved a regular season SEC title, Zeigler would get off to a slow start before really turning things on around December. He didn’t play much in early losses to Purdue and Kansas but had several double-doubles in league play, including a 26-point, 13-assists effort in a road win at Kentucky. During Tennessee’s postseason run, Zeigler had 18 points and 6 assists in a critical Sweet Sixteen win over Creighton and asserted himself as one of the most athletic point guards in the nation.