CHAMPAIGN, Ill.– Illinois head coach Brad Underwood announced Friday the signing of Class of 2026 forward Zavier Zens to a Big Ten Athletics Scholarship Agreement.
Zens is a 6-foot-7, 215-pound forward from Milwaukee. He is one of the most decorated players in the state of Wisconsin, helping lead Wisconsin Lutheran High School, under the direction of Coach Ryan Walz, to three consecutive state championships with a combined 88-2 record.
Zens was voted 2026 Mr. Basketball by the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA), and he also was selected 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 as a senior on 62% shooting from the field, including 42% from 3-point range and 74% from the foul line as Wisconsin Lutheran went a perfect 30-0 en route to its third-straight state title, second in Division 1.
"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."
Zens averaged 22.2 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 3.7 assists as a junior, earning WBCA All-State honors and winning Conference Player of the Year while helping the Vikings repeat as state champions, this time in Division 1, with a 28-2 record. He also played on Wisconsin Lutheran's undefeated (30-0) 2024 Division 2 state title team as a sophomore, alongside current NBA rookie Kon Knueppel.
Zens is the fourth player in the 2026 class to join the Fighting Illini, following November signees Ethan Brown, Landon Davis, and Lucas Morillo.
