Vols men’s basketball picked 3rd in SEC; Zeigler named preseason All-SEC

(WJHL) – The college basketball campaign is just a few weeks away – and on Monday the Southeastern Conference released its preseason rankings and all-conference squads.

The defending SEC regular season champion Vols were selected third, behind only Alabama and Auburn. Arkansas and Texas A&M round out the Top 5 preseason selections.

Newcomers Texas and Oklahoma were picked seventh and 15th, respectively.

Tennessee senior guard Zakai Zeigler landed on the Preseason First Team All-SEC, following his SEC Defensive Player of the Year and First Team honors at the conclusion of last season. The New York native averaged 11.8 points, 6.1 assists, 2.8 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game in 2023-24.

The remaining four members of the First Team All-SEC squad are Johni Broome (Auburn), Walter Clayton Jr. (Florida), Wade Taylor IV (Texas A&M) and preseason Player of the Year, Mark Sears (Alabama).

Former Big Orange forward, Jonas Aidoo (Arkansas), was a Preseason Second Team All-SEC honoree.

The Vols will begin the 2024-25 campaign ranked No. 12 in the Preseason AP Top 25 Poll.

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