“Get a Job, Zakai”: NCAA and U.S. DOJ Team Up to Shut Down Tennessee Star’s Fifth-Year Dream
In a legal saga that feels more like a bitter breakup than a courtroom battle, Tennessee basketball star Zakai Zeigler is finding out the hard way that not everyone believes in farewell tours. After filing a high-stakes lawsuit in May against the NCAA to secure a fifth year of eligibility, Zeigler is now being told in no uncertain terms to move on.
Not just by the NCAA.
The United States Department of Justice is now involved, and while they didn’t outright slam the door, they’re certainly not rolling out the red carpet for Zeigler’s return to college basketball either.
Zeigler’s $4 Million Gamble
At the heart of Zeigler’s case is a bold assertion: the NCAA’s long-standing “four seasons in five years” eligibility rule is an unlawful restraint on trade. He argues it’s keeping him from cashing in on what he estimates could be a $2–$4 million NIL payday for a final season at Tennessee, not to mention another year of development to improve his shot at the NBA.
But the NCAA isn’t buying the sob story and their response was about as cold as it gets.
“If Zeigler had a viable path to the NBA,” the NCAA’s legal team wrote, “he would already be a viable prospect.” They added that 138 career games, 747 assists, and 251 steals should’ve been enough to prove himself and if not, that’s not college basketball’s problem.
“You’re Hurting the Kids, Zakai”
The NCAA didn’t stop there. In an argument that sounds more like a PR play than legal logic, they warned that Zeigler’s lawsuit would hurt incoming freshmen, by taking roster spots from future generations of student-athletes.
“While Plaintiff focuses only on what that means for himself, he does so to the detriment of the entering student-athletes who dream of being the next Zakai Zeigler,” they said.
Translation: You’ve had your time. Let the kids play.
DOJ Steps In — and Doesn’t Exactly Back Zeigler
What makes this case truly unique is that the U.S. Department of Justice has entered the chat. For the first time ever in a college athlete eligibility lawsuit, the DOJ has filed a legal brief and while they didn’t explicitly take a side, they made it clear they value the rule that Zeigler is trying to break.
Citing the landmark NCAA v. Alston ruling in 2021, the DOJ told the court that eligibility rules like the “four-seasons” rule can actually improve market competition and protect the distinction between amateur and professional sports.
In short: the DOJ thinks there’s a legitimate reason to cap college eligibility and they want the court to consider that before granting Zeigler his wish.
“Eligibility rules… can enhance quality in the labor market by preserving the distinction between college sports and professional sports,” the DOJ wrote.
NCAA, DOJ, and Reality All Say the Same Thing
Let’s be honest. Zakai Zeigler has had a legendary college career school record-holder in assists and steals, fifth in total minutes played, and a fan favorite across the SEC. His passion, grit, and playmaking ability have made him one of Tennessee’s most beloved athletes in recent memory.
But at this point, even his biggest supporters might admit: it’s time.
The NCAA made it official. The DOJ chimed in. And the message is crystal clear:
Get a job, Zakai. College basketball isn’t forever.
Whether that job is in the NBA, overseas, or in a different profession entirely, the curtain has closed on the college chapter of Zeigler’s life. Friday’s court hearing will make things official, but the writing’s already on the wall.
And no lawsuit no matter how many millions it projects in NIL valuation can change that.
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