Zeigler, Mashack, and Lanier Named Finalists for CollegeInsider.com Awards – University of Tennessee Athletics

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Three members of the University of Tennessee men’s basketball team have been selected as finalists for two separate CollegeInsider.com individual awards, the announcement was made Wednesday afternoon.

Chaz Lanier is a finalist for the Riley Wallace Award, which honors the nation’s top transfer. Jahmai Mashack and Zakai Zeigler are finalists for the Lefty Driesell Awards, presented to the nation’s top defensive player.

Additionally, Tennessee has a nominee for another CollegeInsider.com award, as Rick Barnes was named a candidate for the Skip Prosser Man of the Year Award, announced on March 6.

Lanier, a fifth-year guard from Nashville, Tenn., is averaging 17.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.0 assist per game in his first season at Tennessee. He is shooting 40.5% from three-point range, making multiple 3-pointers in 27 of 31 games, with four or more in 13 games and six or more in four contests.

Lanier, named to The Sporting News Third Team All-American and an AP First Team All-SEC selection, is also a finalist for the Jerry West Award, which goes to the best shooting guard in the country. The 6-foot-5, 207-pound guard, who earned SEC Newcomer of the Year honors, is on the Wooden Award Top 15 National Ballot.

Mashack, a senior guard from Fontana, Calif., earned the Field of 68 National Defensive Player of the Year award earlier this week. He is also a semifinalist for the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year award and made the SEC All-Defensive Team.

Mashack boasts a 7.1 defensive box plus-minus, ranking second in Division I basketball, according to College Basketball Reference. The 6-foot-4, 202-pound guard has allowed opponents to shoot just 32.8% from the field, per Synergy.

Zeigler, a senior guard from Long Island, N.Y., is a Lefty Driesell Award finalist for the third consecutive year. He is also a Naismith Defensive Player of the Year semifinalist for the third straight season and was named SEC Defensive Player of the Year for the second consecutive time.

Zeigler is the first four-time SEC All-Defensive Team honoree in conference history and ranks 11th all-time in the SEC with 239 career steals, including 58 this season. The 5-foot-9, 172-pounder is also a finalist for the Bob Cousy Award, given to the nation’s best point guard, and is on the Wooden Award Top 15 National Ballot.

Tennessee, ranked No. 1 in the country for defense according to KenPom, is one of five teams with multiple Lefty Driesell Award finalists. The other teams are Auburn, Duke, Houston, and St. John’s.

The Riley Wallace Award is named in honor of the former head coach at Centenary (1976-78) and Hawaii (1987-2007), who was known for welcoming many transfers and becoming the winningest coach in Hawaii’s history with nine postseason appearances, including three NCAA Tournament bids.

Last year, Tennessee guard Dalton Knecht won the Riley Wallace Award after being named a consensus First Team All-American and SEC Player of the Year.

The Lefty Driesell Award is named after the legendary coach who won 786 games in 41 years as head coach at Davidson, Maryland, James Madison, and Georgia State. His teams were famous for their tough defensive play.

Both awards are determined by a 10-member voting committee that includes current and former head coaches and two senior staff members from CollegeInsider.com. The winners will be announced in April in San Antonio, Texas, during the Final Four.

Lanier, Mashack, Zeigler, and No. 8/6 Tennessee (25-6, 12-6 SEC) begin SEC Tournament play Friday at 3:30 p.m. ET in a quarterfinal matchup against a to-be-determined opponent. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN from Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn.

2024-25 RILEY WALLACE AWARD FINALISTS

Miles Barnstable, St. Thomas

Oscar Cluff, South Dakota State

Ryan Conwell, Xavier

Dylan Darling, Idaho State

Mark Freeman, James Madison

Ja’Kobi Gillespie, Maryland

P.J. Haggerty, Memphis

Devin Haid, Central Connecticut State

Chucky Hepburn, Louisville

Joshua Jefferson, Iowa State

Chaz Lanier, Tennessee

Alijah Martin, Florida

Mark Mitchell, Missouri

Jacksen Moni, North Dakota State

Brian Moore Jr., Norfolk State

Malik Moore, Montana

Paulius Murauskas, Saint Mary’s

Dominick Nelson, Utah Valley

Otega Oweh, Kentucky

Sean Pedulla, Ole Miss

Kadary Richmond, St. John’s

Javon Small, West Virginia

Jamichael Stillwell, Milwaukee

Bennett Stirtz, Drake

John Tonje, Wisconsin

JT Toppin, Texas Tech

Milos Uzan, Houston

Teddy Washington Jr., Southeast Missouri State

Danny Wolf, Michigan

Kam Woods, Rob

ert Morris

2024-25 LEFTY DRIESELL AWARD FINALISTS

Jadin Akins,