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New York Times
20-05-2025
- Business
- New York Times
Former Tennessee guard Zakai Zeigler suing NCAA for a fifth year of eligibility
Former Tennessee guard Zakai Zeigler is suing the NCAA for a fifth year of eligibility, claiming he could earn up to $4 million next year after making $500,000 in his senior season with the Vols. Zeigler's case could have massive ramifications for the sport. It differs from other recent lawsuits challenging eligibility rules in that there are no special circumstances for Zeigler, such as Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia's successful suit to gain another year of play because a court ruled his time in junior college should not count against eligibility. The judge ruled that it violated antitrust law. Advertisement Zeigler is simply asking for a fifth year of eligibility in five years, essentially challenging current redshirt rules that allow an athlete to play four years in a five-year span. Zeigler's representation, Litson PLLC and Garza Law Firm, said in a statement Tuesday that 'the NCAA's rule permitting only four seasons of competition within the five-year eligibility window is an unlawful restraint of trade under federal and state antitrust laws.' The lawsuit claims the fifth year of eligibility is the most lucrative for 'the vast majority of athletes' and that Zeigler will suffer irreparable harm without an immediate injunction allowing him to compete in 2025-26, since schools are finalizing their rosters now. Zeigler intends to pursue a graduate degree after graduating this month from Tennessee with a degree in retail and merchandising management. The lawsuit points out that Zeigler's class is the first in the era of name, image and likeness compensation for athletes that has not been granted an extra year. Classes that entered school between 2016 and 2020 all got the extra year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. 'With athletes now paid significant amounts by schools explicitly tied to their participation in athletics, NCAA eligibility rules restrict how long they can sell their labor,' Mit Winter, a college athletics attorney, posted on X. 'If (Zeigler is) successful, that would give every (Division I) athlete who played four seasons in four years another year to play. Would be a lot of athletes with another available season of competition.' The 5-foot-9 Zeigler, a last-minute addition to coach Rick Barnes' 2021 recruiting class, blew past expectations immediately and had a legendary four-year career. He led the Vols to two of the three Elite Eights in program history and is Tennessee's all-time leader in assists (747), which ranks third in SEC history. Advertisement He's the only player in SEC history to be named to the all-defensive team four times and was a two-time SEC Defensive Player of the Year. He was on the All-SEC first team as a junior and senior, averaging 13.6 points and 7.4 assists in his final season. He was also a fan favorite, and when his family's home in New York burned down when he was a sophomore, UT fans raised more than $360,000 via GoFundMe. Now he seeks another season. If he wins, it would have a huge impact on college athletics in the 2025-26 school year and expedite a development some in the industry have seen as inevitable — five seasons of eligibility for all college athletes.
Associated Press
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Zakai Zeigler, SEC's 2-time defensive player of year, suing NCAA to play 5th season in 5 years
Two-time Southeastern Conference defensive player of the year Zakai Zeigler is suing the NCAA over rules limiting him to four seasons in a five-year window as an unlawful restraint of trade under both federal and Tennessee laws. Zeigler's lawsuit was filed Tuesday in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee. The point guard played four seasons at Tennessee, helping the Volunteers to consecutive Elite Eight berths before graduating earlier this month. The Vols went 109-36 during Zeigler's time with the school. Zeigler was a third-team All-American this season, which ended with Tennessee's loss to eventual national runner-up Houston in the Elite Eight on March 30. 'We have requested a preliminary injunction to allow Zakai to compete in the upcoming season while pursuing his graduate studies,' according to a statement from the Garza Law Firm and Litson PLLC. 'We look forward to a swift resolution of this matter so that Zakai can begin preparing for next season.' The NCAA said in a statement the association fully supports athletes profiting from name, image and likeness along with other benefits and is working for such reforms, which includes a proposed $2.8 billion settlement of an antitrust lawsuit. 'A patchwork of different state laws, executive orders and court opinions, make it challenging for any league to operate on a fair playing field, including at the conference level and that's why partnering with Congress to develop a national standard would provide stability for student-athletes and schools everywhere,' the NCAA said. This latest lawsuit against the NCAA notes Zeigler 'diligently completed his undergraduate degree in four years' and graduated this month. That makes Zeigler's lawsuit different from athletes who started careers at junior colleges or lower-division NCAA schools and are seeking a fifth season. Yet the NCAA rule limiting athletes to four seasons during a five-year window keeps Zeigler from playing a fifth season and earning NIL money in 'the most lucrative year of the eligibility window for the vast majority of athletes,' according to the lawsuit. Athletes who redshirt or take five years to finish an undergraduate degree can earn NIL money each of their five years. The lawsuit also points to the NCAA's redshirt system controlling who gets access to a fifth year of eligibility. The lawsuit asks that the NCAA rule be declared a violation of Section 1 of the Sherman Act and Tennessee's Trade Practices Act. ___ AP college basketball: and
