Zakai Zeigler saw Tennessee basketball start a simple passing drill in practice recently and wanted to take part.

The Vols had to say no to Zeigler, who is ahead of schedule in rehabbing his ACL injury but remains on a firm timetable that UT is not altering.

"He’s ahead of where he wants to be but we’re not going to let (him) come back until we know he’s 100% ready and that won’t be until late in the fall probably," Vols coach Rick Barnes said Tuesday.

Zeigler suffered a torn ACL in his left knee on Feb. 28 in Tennessee's win against Arkansas. He had surgery in Knoxville on March 13 to repair the ligament and has been rehabbing during the offseason.

"I think he’s gone at this rehab the way you would expect him to do," Barnes said. "He’s been a model patient in terms of doing it but he is impatient because he’s ready. But we obviously won’t let that happen. We have a timetable with him and we’ll stick with that timetable.”

Zeigler averaged 10.7 points and 5.4 assists in 28.7 minutes per game during a sensational sophomore season to earn All-SEC second-team honors. He rapidly developed into a top point guard in SEC play and had five double-doubles, including a 13-point, 11-assist effort against South Carolina on Feb. 25. He was injured the following game, going down in the opening minutes with a noncontact injury after driving down the baseline. He had to be helped off the court.

Zeigler traveled with UT for the remainder of the regular season before having surgery. The New York City native rejoined the Vols for the Sweet 16 at Madison Square Garden after missing the first weekend in Orlando following his surgery.

Zeigler accelerated as a freshman, earning all-freshman and all-defensive team honors. He averaged 8.8 points and shot 35.2% on 3-pointers last season.

BACKGROUND: Trains, sacrifices and a last chance: Zakai Zeigler's journey to Tennessee basketball

"He’s itching (to return) and he would tell you right now his left leg is stronger than his right leg which is obviously a good thing," Barnes said.

Harvard graduate transfer forward Chris Ledlum is rehabbing an injury. Freshman forward Cade Phillips is rehabbing a right shoulder injury that required surgery.

The Vols are going on a 10-day international trip to Italy in early August that will include three games.

Mike Wilson covers University of Tennessee athletics. Email him at michael.wilson@knoxnews.com and follow him on Twitter @ByMikeWilson. If you enjoy Mike’s coverage, consider a digital subscription that will allow you access to all of it.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Zakai Zeigler: Rick Barnes updates Tennessee basketball guard's ACL rehab