Tag: zach kinziger

Wisconsin basketball officially inks top 100 class of 2025 shooting guard

Wisconsin basketball officially inks top 100 class of 2025 shooting guard

The first domino of Wisconsin basketball’s class of 2025 fell on Wednesday morning.

Over 15 months removed from his commitment to Wisconsin, top-ranked class of 2025 shooting guard Zach Kinziger signed with Greg Gard’s program on Nov. 13, the first day of NCAA Division I basketball’s initial signing period.

In early September, Kinziger moved to No. 68 in the coveted ESPN100 ranking for the class of 2025. He plays De Pere High School and Team Herro in the AAU circuit.

A native of De Pere, Wisconsin, Kinziger is considered a four-star recruit by 247Sports, On3 and ESPN. 247Sports ranks the 6-foot-3, 175-pound shooting guard as the No. 113 overall player, the No. 21 shooting guard and the No. 3 prospect from Wisconsin in the 2025 class.

Kinziger is one of three commits in Wisconsin’s 2025 class alongside New Zealand prospect Hayden Jones and three-star Middleton, Wisconsin, native Will Garlock. Jones, who debuted for the New Zealand national team at just 17 years old this summer, also signed with the Badgers on Wednesday.

When Kinziger arrives in Madison, he will slide in to a rotation with 2024 true freshman Daniel Freitag and 2023-24 Big Ten All-Freshman Team member John Blackwell. With respectable range and athleticism, he could immediately contribute if awarded the opportunity.

Wisconsin commit Zach Kinziger moves in latest ESPN100 for class of 2025

Wisconsin commit Zach Kinziger moves in latest ESPN100 for class of 2025

Wisconsin commit Zach Kinziger is now ranked No. 68 in the latest ESPN100 ranking for the class of 2025.

Two months ago, Kinziger was ranked No. 67 in the midst of a hectic summer with De Pere High School and Team Herro in the AAU circuit.

The De Pere, Wisconsin native is considered a four-star recruit by 247Sports, On3 and ESPN. 247Sports ranks the 6’3,” 175-pound shooting guard as the No. 128 overall player in the class of 2025, No. 24 shooting guard and No. 4 prospect from Wisconsin.

While Kinziger and three-star center Will Garlock are Wisconsin’s lone commitments in the class at the moment, four other in-state class of 2025 prospects were included in ESPN Recruiting Director Paul Biancardi’s latest hierarchy.

That list includes four-star center Kai Rogers (undecided), four-star forward Xzavion Mitchell (Iowa State), four-star shooting guard Jamarion Batemon (Iowa State) and four-star combo guard Davion Hannah (undecided).

While Kinziger has already offered his pledge to join Greg Gard’s program, both Hannah and Rogers could eventually end up in Madison. On3’s recruiting prediction machine awarded UW a 15.3% chance to land Rogers and a 22.8% chance to secure a commitment from Hannah, ESPN’s No. 22 prospect for the class.

WATCH: Wisconsin basketball class of 2025 commit Zach Kinziger at Nike Peach Jam

WATCH: Wisconsin basketball class of 2025 commit Zach Kinziger at Nike Peach Jam

Wisconsin basketball class of 2025 commit Zach Kinziger displayed his skillset at the 2024 Nike Peach Jam earlier this month.

A native of De Pere, Wisconsin, Kinziger has vaulted up recruiting outlets’ class of 2025 rankings since committing to Wisconsin in August of 2023. On3’s industry ranking listed the rising senior as the No. 102 overall player in the class of 2025, No. 24 shooting guard and No. 2 recruit from the state of Wisconsin.

The 6-foot-3, 175-pound shooting guard was the first class of 2025 prospect to commit to Greg Gard’s crew. He and three-star center Will Garlock round out a class that currently ranks No. 6 in the nation at this stage in the cycle.

Among the several events in Nike’s Elite Youth Basketball League circuit, ‘Peach Jam’ typically draws the most attention and attracts the game’s most prestigious young stars. The tournament, staged in Augusta, South Carolina, also draws NCAA Division I recruiters and head coaches.

Kinziger took part in the event and displayed his both his range and athleticism for Team Herro. The AAU program is based out of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and named after Miami Heat star Tyler Herro.

Watch Kinziger’s highlights from his time at Nike Peach Jam:

Where Wisconsin commit Zach Kinziger lands in new ESPN100 for class of 2025

Where Wisconsin commit Zach Kinziger lands in new ESPN100 for class of 2025

Wisconsin commit Zach Kinziger is up to No. 67 in the latest ESPN100 ranking for the class of 2025.

The top-ranked shooting guard has been on a steady rise over the last 11 months after committing to Wisconsin back in August of 2023.

Related: Big Ten basketball teams ranked by returning production entering 2024-25 season

The De Pere, Wisconsin is also ranked as a four-star by 247Sports, specifically as the No. 132 overall player in the class of 2025 and No. 20 shooting guard. He is also ranked firmly within Rival’s top 150.

His recent rise in ESPN, 247Sports and Rivals’ national recruiting rankings all come after a fantastic season of summer showcase events with De Pere High School and Team Herro. Kinziger just recently led his school to a 5-0 record at the WBY Tournament in Kaukauna, Wisconsin, and took home All-Tournament honors for his performance.

The 6’3,” 175-pound shooting guard projects to provide a significant boost to a Wisconsin program that is in need of a strong run of regular season and postseason play.

The 2024-25 team has expectations to begin that stretch, though the forward-looking outlook focuses on class of 2024 point guard Daniel Freitag and Kinziger to help lead that charge.

The talented shooting guard has pushed Wisconsin’s class of 2025 up to No. 7 in the nation at this early stage in the cycle. He and three-star center Will Garlock are the class’ two commitments at the moment.

Other notable inclusions in the latest ESPN100 include Wisconsin top target combo guard Davion Hannah at No. 30 and top-ranked in-state small forward Xzavion Mitchell (Iowa State commit) at No. 68.

Wisconsin’s class of 2025 is still searching for a few more splashes before the recruiting cycle comes to an end next year.

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Wisconsin basketball class of 2025 commit Zach Kinziger spring AAU highlights

Wisconsin class of 2025 commit Zach Kinziger spring highlights

Wisconsin in-state class of 2025 commit Zach Kinziger is one of the fastest-rising recruits in the country.

The 6’3,” 175-pound shooting guard has rocketed up the 247Sports composite rankings and is now the No. 132 overall player in the class of 2025, No. 20 shooting guard and No. 5 recruit from the state of Wisconsin.

Related: Big Ten Football Power Index Rankings for 2024: Which teams are underrated, overrated?

Wisconsin landed Kinziger’s commitment back in August of 2023. Since that point, the four-star shooting guard has gained an extra star in 247Sports’ rankings and entered Rivals’ top-150 ranking. He is set to anchor the Badgers’ class of 2025 — a group that currently ranks No. 7 in the nation at this early stage in the cycle.

The De Pere, Wisconsin native’s rise is thanks in part to his terrific play with Team Herro on the AAU circuit.

For an updated look at Kinziger’s evolving game, here are his most recent highlights with Team Herro at the NY2LA Sports Swish N’ Dish:

 

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Wisconsin basketball class of 2025 commit now a 247Sports four-star prospect

Wisconsin basketball class of 2025 commit now a four-star prospect

Wisconsin basketball class of 2025 commit Zach Kinziger was recently upgraded to a four-star recruit by 247Sports.

The De Pere, Wisconsin native rose to the No. 133 overall player in the class, No. 21 shooting guard and No. 5 recruit from the state of Wisconsin.

Related: Wisconsin basketball 2024-25 starting lineup, rotation and bench with Andrija Vukovic signing

This upgrade comes as the Badgers commit excels in summer showcase tournaments ahead of his senior high school season. He recently led De Pere High School to a 5-0 record at the WBY Tournament in Kaukauna, Wisconsin, taking home All-Tournament honors in the process.

The fast-rising prospect also recently entered Rivals’ top 150 in the class of 2025, rising to No. 146. His stock has only risen since committing to the Badgers on August 4, 2023.

Kinziger is one of Wisconsin’s two commits in the class of 2025 at this early stage in the process, along with three-star center Will Garlock. The group currently ranks No. 5 in the nation — though it is only one of a few classes with more than one commit.

The group is set to provide a boost to a Wisconsin program that is looking to snap its seven-year Sweet Sixteen drought. Its class of 2024, headlined by four-star PG Daniel Freitag, has just arrived on campus. So Kinziger and Garlock will not put on a Badger uniform for some time.

But the news cycle surrounding Wisconsin basketball is slow at the moment after the program surprisingly signed Serbian forward Andrija Vukovic on June 10. There are still positive developments to note, even if they won’t impact the program during the 2024-25 season.

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes, and opinion.

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Wisconsin class of 2025 commit Zach Kinziger cracks Rivals top-150 ranking

Wisconsin class of 2025 commit Zach Kinziger cracks Rivals top-150 ranking

Wisconsin basketball class of 2025 shooting guard commit Zach Kinziger moved up to No. 146 in Rivals’ updated national rankings on Wednesday.

247Sports, meanwhile, has the De Pere, Wisconsin native as the No. 126 player in the class of 2025, No. 20 shooting guard and No. 3 recruit from the state of Wisconsin.

Related: Grading Wisconsin basketball’s 2024 offseason moves

Despite receiving offers from both California Polytechnic State University, the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, Toledo and Illinois State, Kinziger committed to the Badgers on August 4, 2023.

Greg Gard is off to a hot start for his class of 2025 cycle. UW is one of only a few programs with more than one commitment thus far, trailing Providence, South Carolina, Georgia Tech and Iowa State in 2025 rankings.

Wisconsin is at No. 5 with two three-star players committed. The Badgers also landed three-star center Will Garlock on June 8.

The class of 2025 will not join the program until the 2025-26 basketball season. The Badgers just welcomed their class of 2024 onto campus, a group led by top point guard Daniel Freitag.

Wisconsin offers a 2025 in-state shooting guard

Wisconsin is getting things started in the class of 2025

Wisconsin basketball is getting things started on the 2025 recruiting trail. Earlier this week it extended an offer to in-state shooting guard Zach Kinziger.

Kinziger is currently unranked on 247Sports.com and holds offers from Cal Poly and UW-Green Bay.

The De Pere, Wisconsin native earned the Wisconsin offer after attending an advanced camp at the school last week. Evan Flood of 247Sports also notes Kinziger “has been lighting up the EYBL,” meaning there are likely several more high-profile offers on the way.

The offer is Wisconsin’s eighth in the class, the fifth going to an in-state player. Focus is still on the program’s class of 2024 which currently ranks No. 15 nationally while it awaits to hear from top-10 prospect Kon Knueppel.