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Wisconsin Lutheran's Zavier Zens has visits with two schools on the calendar for mid-April, and is reporting three offers since being granted a release from his National Letter of Intent with Northern Iowa on March 31.
The 6-foot-7 reigning Mr. Basketball will be heading to Utah State for an official visit with former Northern Iowa coach Ben Jacobson at his new home on April 10. Zens told the Journal Sentinel in an exclusive interview April 2 that being around Jacobson's Northern Iowa program on his initial recruiting tour was an "awesome experience."
"The way their team got along together and the way their coaches got along together with the players and each other was awesome to see. That was something that was important to me," Zens said.
The following Monday on April 13, Zens will make what has become a familiar trip down I-94 West for him and his Vikings teammates to Madison, where the Badgers also extended a scholarship offer this week. Zens took an unofficial visit last summer to Wisconsin and recalls being impressed by the facilities and coaching staff.
"It was an amazing place, and I was able to talk to coach Greg Gard in person, and then he took us around campus. It was super cool to see. This time I would hope to meet some of the players that are returning, and ask them some questions and spend more time with the staff," Zens said.
Asked if any of his experiences on the Kohl Center floor with Wisconsin Lutheran had him thinking about what it would be like to play collegiately in that venue, Zens answered affirmatively but succinctly.
"Yeah, I thought of that, but ... yeah, I have thought of that," Zens said.
Also joining the fray since Zens has reopened his recruitment has been Illinois, which extended an offer Zens reported on April 2 as well. An official visit is also in the works to Champaign, but communication there has been stymied a bit by the Illini's Final Four run.
Colorado State has also been in contact with Zens this week, but Zens said that call was largely a check-in with an impending departure on the coaching staff coming. Zens also heard from an assistant coach at Alabama on April 2. The Crimson Tide have two Wisconsin natives on the roster, Amari Allen of Green Bay and Davion Hannah of Milwaukee. Hannah and Zens went toe-to-toe in a 2024 WIAA Division 2 state semifinal when Hannah played for Nicolet.
"Other than that, it was a lot of other mid-majors and some coaches I had previously been recruited by," Zens said.
Despite the NCAA DI transfer portal window opening from April 7 through April 21, no school had issued Zens a deadline to make his decision.
"No school has given me a timeframe. The portal's opening up, so obviously I've gotta act fast. You don't wanna wait too long, but I have not received a timeframe from any coach," Zens said.
One thing Zens will be keeping an eye on when the portal opens is whether some Northern Iowa players enter the portal and reunite with Jacobson.
"I hope they do, because that's who I was looking forward to playing with were some of those players," Zens said.
De Pere native Will Hornseth and Wauwatosa East alum Leon Bond III were two specifically that Zens noted as players he had connected with over the course of his recruitment by Northern Iowa, and may be names to watch as potential dominos as Zens' own recruitment unfolds. Wherever he ends up, Zens confirmed it is among his priorities to have an opportunity to compete for a role early.
"That is pretty important to me, something I do have to take account for and gotta weigh what's best for me. I would like to play right away – not play right away, but have the opportunity to, chance to work for it," Zens said.
While Illinois, Utah State and Wisconsin have set themselves apart with the interest they have shown, Zens hasn't shut the door on other would-be suitors.
"I'm open. If another program were to reach out, I'd have to give a listen, but as of right now it is those three," Zens said.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin Lutheran basketball standout Zavier Zens updates recruiting
Continue reading...
The 6-foot-7 reigning Mr. Basketball will be heading to Utah State for an official visit with former Northern Iowa coach Ben Jacobson at his new home on April 10. Zens told the Journal Sentinel in an exclusive interview April 2 that being around Jacobson's Northern Iowa program on his initial recruiting tour was an "awesome experience."
"The way their team got along together and the way their coaches got along together with the players and each other was awesome to see. That was something that was important to me," Zens said.
The following Monday on April 13, Zens will make what has become a familiar trip down I-94 West for him and his Vikings teammates to Madison, where the Badgers also extended a scholarship offer this week. Zens took an unofficial visit last summer to Wisconsin and recalls being impressed by the facilities and coaching staff.
"It was an amazing place, and I was able to talk to coach Greg Gard in person, and then he took us around campus. It was super cool to see. This time I would hope to meet some of the players that are returning, and ask them some questions and spend more time with the staff," Zens said.
Asked if any of his experiences on the Kohl Center floor with Wisconsin Lutheran had him thinking about what it would be like to play collegiately in that venue, Zens answered affirmatively but succinctly.
"Yeah, I thought of that, but ... yeah, I have thought of that," Zens said.
Also joining the fray since Zens has reopened his recruitment has been Illinois, which extended an offer Zens reported on April 2 as well. An official visit is also in the works to Champaign, but communication there has been stymied a bit by the Illini's Final Four run.
Colorado State has also been in contact with Zens this week, but Zens said that call was largely a check-in with an impending departure on the coaching staff coming. Zens also heard from an assistant coach at Alabama on April 2. The Crimson Tide have two Wisconsin natives on the roster, Amari Allen of Green Bay and Davion Hannah of Milwaukee. Hannah and Zens went toe-to-toe in a 2024 WIAA Division 2 state semifinal when Hannah played for Nicolet.
"Other than that, it was a lot of other mid-majors and some coaches I had previously been recruited by," Zens said.
Despite the NCAA DI transfer portal window opening from April 7 through April 21, no school had issued Zens a deadline to make his decision.
"No school has given me a timeframe. The portal's opening up, so obviously I've gotta act fast. You don't wanna wait too long, but I have not received a timeframe from any coach," Zens said.
One thing Zens will be keeping an eye on when the portal opens is whether some Northern Iowa players enter the portal and reunite with Jacobson.
"I hope they do, because that's who I was looking forward to playing with were some of those players," Zens said.
De Pere native Will Hornseth and Wauwatosa East alum Leon Bond III were two specifically that Zens noted as players he had connected with over the course of his recruitment by Northern Iowa, and may be names to watch as potential dominos as Zens' own recruitment unfolds. Wherever he ends up, Zens confirmed it is among his priorities to have an opportunity to compete for a role early.
"That is pretty important to me, something I do have to take account for and gotta weigh what's best for me. I would like to play right away – not play right away, but have the opportunity to, chance to work for it," Zens said.
While Illinois, Utah State and Wisconsin have set themselves apart with the interest they have shown, Zens hasn't shut the door on other would-be suitors.
"I'm open. If another program were to reach out, I'd have to give a listen, but as of right now it is those three," Zens said.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin Lutheran basketball standout Zavier Zens updates recruiting
Continue reading...
