The Detroit Pistons took a clear liking to the Tennessee Volunteers’ roster last season.
Not only did the Pistons select [Tennessee’s Chaz Lanier with the 37th overall pick](https://www.mlive.com/pistons/2025/06/2025-nba-draft-detroit-pistons-pick-tennessee-guard-in-second-round.html) in the 2025 NBA Draft, they’re reportedly bringing in his backcourt partner, Zakai Zeigler, after he went undrafted.
It will be an NBA Summer League deal, according to a report from [ESPN’s Jonathan Givony](https://x.com/DraftExpress/status/1938430832546615309). This will allow Zeigler to showcase his skills and try to catch on with the Pistons, while likely playing right alongside his college teammate from last season.
While the pair only spent one year together at Tennessee, Zeigler was a mainstay for coach Rick Barnes’ team.
The 5-foot-9 point guard out of The Bronx, New York spent all four of his college seasons at Tennessee, averaging 11.3 points, 5.4 assists and 1.8 steals across his career. In his final season, Zeigler ranked fifth in the nation for assists per game (7.4) while helping to bring the Volunteers to the Elite Eight.
Zeigler will be remembered as an all-timer at Tennessee, leaving as the program’s leader in steals, assists, and points-assists double-doubles after starting for three seasons.
He attempted to stick around the college ranks, filing a lawsuit against the NCAA in search of a fifth year of eligibility. However, he was denied a preliminary injunction by a U.S. District Court Judge earlier this month.
The NBA Summer League runs July 10-20 in Las Vegas. President of basketball operations Trajan Langdon has already said he expects last year’s draft picks — forwards Ron Holland II and Bobi Klintman — to take a leading role in Summer League play.
Now it looks like the backcourt for the Pistons’ summer roster is settled.