Western Michigan transfer Chansey Willis Jr. led all current Gophers in college scoring last season, averaging 16.8 points per game. He brings proven experience—but will he earn the starting point guard spot next season?
-
2024-25 Stats: 16.8 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 5.8 APG
-
Previous School: Western Michigan (Mid-American Conference)
-
Height: 6-foot-2
-
Eligibility Remaining: 2 years
Chansey Willis Jr. comes to Minnesota as a proven scorer with a unique path. A Detroit native, he was a star at Detroit King High School—nearly averaging a triple-double as a senior and earning both 2022 Michigan Gatorade Player of the Year and Michigan Mr. Basketball honors.
Willis began his college career at Division II Saginaw Valley State, then played at Henry Ford College at the JUCO level before transferring to Western Michigan. Due to updated NCAA rules, his junior college year won’t count against his Division I eligibility, giving him two more seasons with the Gophers.
In 2024–25, Willis averaged 16.8 points, 5.8 assists, and 4.3 rebounds per game for Western Michigan and earned All-MAC honors. He shot 42.4% from the field, 28.4% from three, and 72.4% at the line. He topped 20 points in eight games, including a season-high 34 against Ohio on Feb. 25. While only 34.2% of his shots came from deep, he’ll need to refine his decision-making after averaging 3.3 turnovers per game.
At 6-foot-2, Willis brings veteran scoring and playmaking—but the question remains: will he be Minnesota’s starting point guard this season?
Historical Gophers comparison: Marcus Carr
Chansey Willis Jr. is hard to compare to any recent Gopher. He’s a ball-dominant point guard—productive, but inefficient. Think Marcus Carr-lite: same style, lower ceiling.
Willis was the engine at Western Michigan, the only Bronco with over two assists per game (he averaged 5.8). He’s always been a lead guard—posting 4.8 APG in D2 and 7.0 in JUCO. But with 3.3 turnovers per game and shaky shooting (28.4% from three), he’s far from a sure thing.
Minnesota’s backcourt is wide open. Langston Reynolds is a scoring two. Isaac Asuma is most comfortable running the show. Willis and Reynolds could click—but where does that leave Asuma?
Do the Gophers let Willis run the offense and live with the risks? Or shift him off the ball and trust Asuma and Reynolds to create?
Willis might lead the team in scoring—but his fit, and how the Gophers handle this backcourt trio, could define their season.
Source: SI.com
Leave a Reply