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Good Morning, Illini Nation: Get to know Zavier Zens
TL;DR
Zavier Zens, a standout from Wisconsin Lutheran, is visiting Illinois for recruitment after a stellar high school career, including three state championships and being named the 2026 Wisconsin Mr. Basketball. The 6-foot-7 wing averaged 23.4 points this season and is now available due to a coaching change at Northern Iowa.
Apr. 12—Brad Underwood's preference for productive winners explains why Zavier Zens has made his way onto Illinois' recruiting board for the Class of 2026 and why the Wisconsin Lutheran standout is in Champaign this weekend for an official visit.
Zens has been a part of three consecutive state championships at Wisconsin Lutheran. The Vikings went 30-0 this season to win their third straight WIAA Division I title, and they're 88-2 overall during that run, with Zens' senior season his best.
Zens was named the 2026 Wisconsin Mr. Basketball — and a MaxPreps Third Team All-American — after averaging 23.4 points on 62/42/74 shooting to go with 5.4 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game. That follows a similarly strong junior year where he put up 22.2 points, 6.1 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game and shot 51 percent from three-point range.
Wisconsin Lutheran's 2024 state title came with eventual lottery pick Kon Knueppel leading the way as that year's Wisconsin Mr. Basketball, but Zens still averaged 9.9 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.7 assists as a sophomore playing with his cousin. He won this year's state title with his other first cousins — Kager, Kinston and Kash Knueppel.
Zens is available at this point of his senior year because of the coaching change at Northern Iowa. The 6-foot-7, 215-pound wing, a three-star recruit in the Class of 2026, committed to the Panthers in August 2025, signed in November and got his release at the end of March when UNI coach Ben Jacobson took the Utah State job.
Zens' visit to Champaign comes on the heels of a trip to Logan, Utah, for a visit with Jacobson and the Aggies. He's also scheduled to visit Wisconsin on Monday.
Illinois already has three players signed and a fourth committed in the Class of 2026. Lucas Morillo, Ethan Brown and Landon Davis signed in November. Four-star guard Quentin Coleman — fresh off his own state title with Principia (Mo.) — committed Friday before the Final Four.
Underwood hasn't signed five players out of the American high school system in a single class since the Class of 2018. That year Illinois landed Morgan Park guard Ayo Dosunmu, Culver City (Calif.) guard Tevian Jones, Archbishop Stepinac (N.Y.) guard Alan Griffin, St. Patrick (N.J.) forward Giorgi Bezhanishvili, Florida Preparatory Academy (Fla.) forward Samba Kane and Perry Hall (Md.) forward Anthony Higgs in addition to JUCO guard Andres Feliz.
Q&A
What achievements did Zavier Zens accomplish in high school basketball?
Zavier Zens won three consecutive state championships with Wisconsin Lutheran and was named the 2026 Wisconsin Mr. Basketball after averaging 23.4 points per game in his senior season.
Why is Zavier Zens available for recruitment at this time?
Zavier Zens is available because he received a release from his commitment to Northern Iowa following a coaching change when head coach Ben Jacobson took the job at Utah State.
What are Zavier Zens' statistics for his senior season?
In his senior season, Zavier Zens averaged 23.4 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game, shooting 62% from the field, 42% from three-point range, and 74% from the free-throw line.
