WATCH: Zakai Zeigler reveals heart-warming bond with Tennessee fans amid recovery from family's apartment fire

Almost one year ago, Tennessee guard Zakai Zeigler’s mother’s New York apartment caught fire, causing extensive damage and an eventual need to relocate. He set up a GoFundMe, and Vol Nation stepped up in a big way to help with the costs.

Now, Zeigler’s mom lives in Knoxville — thanks in large part to the support he received from Tennessee fans. The GoFundMe raised more than $363,000 and blew away its original goal of $50,000. With College GameDay in town for Saturday’s matchup between Tennessee and Texas as part of the SEC/Big 12 Challenge, host Rece Davis asked Zeigler about the impact the fan base has had on him over the last year.

He just wants to make them proud.

Zakai Zeigler had a message for Vols fans after they helped him and his family 🧡

“It made me feel like I had another family on the backend.” pic.twitter.com/S31YHvDPQW

— College GameDay (@CollegeGameDay) January 28, 2023

“It really just impacted me in a really big way,” Zeigler said of the support he received. “It made me feel like I had another family on the back end.

“Whenever I see fans in the crowd, I always take pictures, I always give them autographs. I never want them to feel like, ‘Hey, why’d I help that kid?’ I always want them to say, ‘I’m glad I helped him out.'”

Last season was Zeigler’s freshman year with Tennessee, and he’s having an impressive 2022-23 campaign for the Volunteers. He enters Saturday’s game averaging 10.7 points per game and leads the Vols with 4.9 assists per game this season. He’s a big reason why Tennessee brings a 17-3 overall record into the matchup with Texas, which tips off at 6 p.m. ET on ESPN.

In fact, ESPN analyst LaPhonso Ellis thinks Zeigler is more important to the Volunteers than people might think. If Tennessee wants to make a run to the Final Four, Ellis thinks the New York native is the key.

“The key to getting there is what they already have,” Ellis said on SportsCenter. “They have the most efficient defense in the country and they combine that with their ability to be able to stick it from three much versatility on the offensive end. But the guy that’s going to be most important is the development of Zakai Zieigler. Early on in the year he really struggled kind of finding his way. I thought he was trying to do a little bit too much putting too much of the pressure on his own shoulders. 

“But since then, he’s really settled down. Over the last three games, 15 points a game, seven assists per game. Why is he so important? Because when you get into the NCAA tournament teams … He is the one guy that had the ability to be able to create his own offense off the dribble, passing, scoring. That guy for Tennessee is Zakai Zeigler.”

On3’s Nick Kosko contributed to this report.