Illinois head coach Brad Underwood announced on Apr. 17 the signing of Class of 2026 forward Zavier Zens to a Big Ten Athletics Scholarship Agreement.
Zens, a 6-foot-7, 215-pound forward from Milwaukee, is recognized as one of Wisconsin’s most decorated high school basketball players. He played for Wisconsin Lutheran High School under Coach Ryan Walz and helped lead the team to three consecutive state championships with an overall record of 88-2.
During his senior year, Zens was named Mr. Basketball by the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association and earned titles such as Gatorade Wisconsin Player of the Year and third-team All-American by MaxPreps. He averaged 23.4 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game while shooting 62% from the field as his team finished undefeated at 30-0 for its third straight state title.
“Zavier first and foremost is a winner,” Underwood said. “He is an extremely high IQ player who has been well coached and brings a championship pedigree to the table, winning three straight state titles. He fits our recruiting mold as a 6-foot-7 versatile wing who can score at all three levels and process the game.” In previous seasons, Zens also earned WBCA All-State honors and Conference Player of the Year recognition while helping his team secure additional championships in both Division 1 and Division 2.
According to the official website, the University of Illinois Fighting Illini men’s basketball team plays home games in Champaign, Illinois according to the official website. The program has reached NCAA Final Four tournaments in several years including 1949, 1951, and others according to the official website, has earned multiple Big Ten Conference titles over its history according to the official website, competes in NCAA Division I athletics according to the official website, is part of the Big Ten Conference according to the official website, and uses Fighting Illini as its athletics nickname according to the official website.
Zens joins Ethan Brown, Landon Davis, and Lucas Morillo as members of Illinois’ incoming class for next season.
