Austin’s Zach Wessels holds up a fist after the Packers defeated Marshall Thursday afternoon in the Class AAA semifinals of the Minnesota State Boys Basketball Tournament at the Target Center. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com

Austin senior Zach Wessels has locked up the next four years of his future.

After playing in two Class ‘AAA’ state basketball tournaments and logging in countless hours in the gym, Wessels made his verbal commitment to play basketball at Division II University of Sioux Falls, S.D. on Friday.

Wessels will receiver a full athletic scholarship at USF.

“It’s a great town and there are some great guys there. I just wanted to commit now and it’s a great fit for me,” Wessels said. “It’s a free education, which is a great thing to have. It feels great and all of the pressure is gone. I’m glad it’s all over with.”

Wessels will join Austin grad and former teammate Tom Aase at USF, which went 12-15 overall this past season, and Aase was one of the first people Wessels called about his decision.

“Having Tom there will be nice. I’ll know how things are going to be,” Wessels said. “Tom is very excited about it and he was in a great mood after I told him I was coming.”

Wessels is familiar with a few of his future USF teammates, including Kebu Johnson, who played against the Packers for the Breck School at the state tournament this past season.

USF plays in the Northern Sun Conference, which is the top Division II conference in the country.

Besides making his basketball commitment, Wessels has also decided he’s going to play football and baseball this season for the Packers. Wessels missed last football season his junior year to play fall basketball and he hasn’t played a season of varsity baseball yet, but he’s glad have one more season in each sport.

“I’m going to enjoy myself now and get back in the swing of some other sports,” Wessels said. “Baseball is a sport I love to play and I love being with the guys in football. I’m glad I can get back to it.”

Wessels averaged 13.5 points, 4.1 assists, 3.3 rebounds and 3.6 steals while shooting 55 percent from the field for the Packers this past winter as Austin went 30-1 overall and took second in the Class ‘AAA’ state boys basketball tournament.