Another 2026 prospect appeared on the radar for the Wisconsin Badgers last week when 2026 Wisconsin Mr. Basketball Zavier Zens asked for a release from his National Letter of Intent (NLI) from the Northern Iowa Panthers.
Zens, a three-star prospect in the Class of 2026, had been committed to Northern Iowa since August of last year, but when head coach Ben Jacobson moved to the Utah State Aggies earlier this offseason, he made the decision to de-commit and seek his release from the institution.
The Badgers were one of the first clubs to express interest in the Wisconsin Lutheran star, and he has since formally been released and restarted his recruiting. Zens demonstrated his ability to compete at the college level this season by averaging 23. 6 points, 5. 4 rebounds, and 4. 5 assists per game.
Although Zens had camped out with the Badgers during the previous summer, he chose to accept an offer from Northern Iowa and enroll in a university last fall. However, now that his recruiting is available, Nick Osen of 247Sports reports that the Badgers will be receiving an official visit from Zens.
According to Osen, the trip will happen on Monday, April 13. Prior to making a choice, Zens will also likely tour Utah State, where Jacobson is going, and Illinois.
There are currently two commitments for Wisconsin’s 2026 class: three-star wing LaTrevion Fenderson and Australian guard Jackson Ball. In addition, they maintain access to the worldwide pool of recruits and may eventually sign another commitment there.
Naturally, roster spaces are a consideration in the equation because Wisconsin should have a large number of returners back for the 2026–27 campaign. If Wisconsin recruits four freshmen, it will have fewer transfers to target, but this may not matter if it can successfully retain its best players.
In any case, the Badgers are hoping to sign the 2026 Wisconsin Mr. Basketball champion next week as he makes his official trip to Madison.
