University of Minnesota Athletics
Photo by: Kristin Ostrowski
Q&A with Payton Willis
2/21/2020 2:58:00 PM | Men's Basketball
This feature originally appeared in the Feb. 19 game program vs. Indiana. Interview by Matt Little, Athletic Communications Student Assistant
Gopher Sports: When you decided to transfer from Vanderbilt, what about Minnesota drew you here?
Willis: Coach P recruited me out of high school, so I already had a relationship with him. Eric [Curry] was a big influence too because we played AAU basketball together for four or five years, so he's basically my brother and one of my best friends. That made the transition a lot easier.
GS: Going off of that, what is your relationship with Eric like, and how do you think he was able to help you with the transition?
Willis: He made it a smooth transition coming over from Vanderbilt. He taught me the ins and outs of Minnesota and the program. On the court, we just have great chemistry. He's a really good communicator, and we can read each other. We know what's going to happen and what we're going to do, just from playing with each other for so many years. He makes it a lot easier for me on and off the court.
GS: Each week, we get to see the 'W' on your shoulder. What's the story behind that piece?
Willis: It's really for my last name "Willis." A couple of my family members have the same tattoo, so I ended up getting it at the end of my high school career. It's really the Washington Nationals W, but I'll rock with them since they just won the championship. I don't really watch baseball that much though.
GS: A few weeks ago, you notched a career-high 21 points over Wisconsin. Not being a Minnesota native, was there still any extra weight behind that game for you?
Willis: It was cool just being in a rivalry game like that and seeing the atmosphere. I could see how the guys who are from Minnesota were entering that game with a mindset like it meant a little more, so it was really cool to have that kind of performance in that kind of game.
GS: Looking back on everyone's 2k vote, Eric, the clear consensus winner, was the only other player to mention you. What's your reaction to that?
Willis: I don't even know what everyone else was thinking. Nobody has beat me on the team except Eric. We'll go neck and neck, but nobody else can compete with us. I think they're just hating on me.
GS: Was last winter the first you'd spent in Minnesota?
Willis: Oh yeah, that was a tough one. I'm glad that our apartment is just across the street from the gym, otherwise it'd have been a lot harder.
GS: Off the court, what do you normally do in your free time?
Willis: Me and Eric play a lot of 2k. We'll watch Hulu, Netflix, or just watch film. Basically just chill out and hang with teammates.
GS: Today's game we are also honoring heroes from the African American community in celebration of Black History Month. What does it mean for you to be the feature during a game where we'll be honoring something so much bigger than sports?
Willis: It means a lot more. There have been so many people who've paved the way for African American athletes and just African American people in general, so it's a big deal to be a part of this program. I'm grateful for it.
Quick Hitters
Netflix Series: Raising Dion or Stranger Things
Pasta Dish: My mom's chicken spaghetti
Music Artist: Nipsy
Memory from the Italy Trip: Gelato
Social Media App: Instagram
Emoji: 💯💯
Gopher Sports: When you decided to transfer from Vanderbilt, what about Minnesota drew you here?
Willis: Coach P recruited me out of high school, so I already had a relationship with him. Eric [Curry] was a big influence too because we played AAU basketball together for four or five years, so he's basically my brother and one of my best friends. That made the transition a lot easier.
GS: Going off of that, what is your relationship with Eric like, and how do you think he was able to help you with the transition?
Willis: He made it a smooth transition coming over from Vanderbilt. He taught me the ins and outs of Minnesota and the program. On the court, we just have great chemistry. He's a really good communicator, and we can read each other. We know what's going to happen and what we're going to do, just from playing with each other for so many years. He makes it a lot easier for me on and off the court.
GS: Each week, we get to see the 'W' on your shoulder. What's the story behind that piece?
Willis: It's really for my last name "Willis." A couple of my family members have the same tattoo, so I ended up getting it at the end of my high school career. It's really the Washington Nationals W, but I'll rock with them since they just won the championship. I don't really watch baseball that much though.
GS: A few weeks ago, you notched a career-high 21 points over Wisconsin. Not being a Minnesota native, was there still any extra weight behind that game for you?
Willis: It was cool just being in a rivalry game like that and seeing the atmosphere. I could see how the guys who are from Minnesota were entering that game with a mindset like it meant a little more, so it was really cool to have that kind of performance in that kind of game.
GS: Looking back on everyone's 2k vote, Eric, the clear consensus winner, was the only other player to mention you. What's your reaction to that?
Willis: I don't even know what everyone else was thinking. Nobody has beat me on the team except Eric. We'll go neck and neck, but nobody else can compete with us. I think they're just hating on me.
GS: Was last winter the first you'd spent in Minnesota?
Willis: Oh yeah, that was a tough one. I'm glad that our apartment is just across the street from the gym, otherwise it'd have been a lot harder.
GS: Off the court, what do you normally do in your free time?
Willis: Me and Eric play a lot of 2k. We'll watch Hulu, Netflix, or just watch film. Basically just chill out and hang with teammates.
GS: Today's game we are also honoring heroes from the African American community in celebration of Black History Month. What does it mean for you to be the feature during a game where we'll be honoring something so much bigger than sports?
Willis: It means a lot more. There have been so many people who've paved the way for African American athletes and just African American people in general, so it's a big deal to be a part of this program. I'm grateful for it.
Quick Hitters
Netflix Series: Raising Dion or Stranger Things
Pasta Dish: My mom's chicken spaghetti
Music Artist: Nipsy
Memory from the Italy Trip: Gelato
Social Media App: Instagram
Emoji: 💯💯
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