Zavier Zens, a three-star high school prospect from Wisconsin, has committed to Illinois, per his X account.
Zens is ranked as the 237th-best player in the class of 2026 according to 247Sports Composite rankings. Despite being named Mr. Basketball in the state of Wisconsin, Zens is rated as just the third-best player in the state.
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A cousin of NBA rookie Kon Knueppel, Zens won three straight state championships at Wisconsin Lutheran to close his high school career. He averaged 23.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.5 steals per game during his senior season.
Zens will join fellow prep prospects Quentin Coleman, Lucas Morillo, Ethan Brown, Landon Davis, and transfer Stefan Vaaks in Illinois’ elite 2026 recruiting class.
Illinois was able to target Zens after he decommitted from Northern Iowa following head coach Ben Jacobsen’s move to Utah State. Brad Underwood and the Illini staff brought the former Panther commit in for an official visit last weekend. Zens chose Illinois over Utah State and Wisconsin.
