NEWEST Illinois Commit Zavier Zens: Why He Chose the Illini! | ”I Want to Win at the Highest Level”

Zavier Zens is officially a Fighting Illini! In this exclusive episode of the Armchair Illini podcast, we sit down with the newest member of the 2026 recruiting class, Zavier Zens. As the reigning Mr. Basketball from Wisconsin, Zavier discusses his whirlwind recruitment process and why Illinois was the perfect fit for his future. In this interview, we discuss: The Decision: Why he chose Illinois over other Big Ten schools like Wisconsin The Wisconsin Connection: His conversations with former Illini star Marcus Domask and his cousin Kon Knueppel. The Goal: His desire to get Illinois back to the Final Four and win at the highest level. The Game: What Illini fans can expect from his playstyle, including his 40% shooting from beyond the arc. The Future: Teaming up with a loaded 2026 freshman class, including Quentin Coleman and Lucas Morillo. Be sure to LIKE this video and SUBSCRIBE to Armchair Illini for the best Illinois Fighting Illini coverage!