University of Minnesota Athletics
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/ Men's Basketball
Willis Returns to Minnesota
5/12/2021 4:54:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Guard headed back to Minnesota for final season of collegiate basketball
Once a Gopher, always a Gopher.
That couldn't be any truer for Payton Willis, who is headed back to Minnesota for his final season of college basketball. Willis spent the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons at Minnesota before playing at the College of Charleston last year as a graduate transfer.
"Payton is a tremendous person and a terrific basketball player and we are excited to welcome him back to Minnesota," said head coach Ben Johnson. "I feel like I have been recruiting him my entire coaching career and am looking forward to the versatility and leadership he will bring to our team. He has been through the battles and has played against some terrific competition in college. Payton can do a little bit of everything. He is a versatile offensive player who can play in pick-n-rolls, score various ways, make open threes and defend at a high level. I love the way he plays the game and how much he enjoys to compete. I am excited that he gets to play once again at Williams Arena for the Minnesota fans."
Willis started his college career at Vanderbilt where he started 16 of the 66 games he competed in. He averaged 5.1 points, 1.6 assists and 1.8 rebounds per game in his Commodore career.
Willis then transferred to Minnesota and sat out the 2018-19 season in compliance with NCAA rules. He started 25 of 27 games in 2019-20 and was fourth on team in scoring (8.9), second in assists (53) and third in steals (21).
The Fayetteville, Ark., native then transferred to the College of Charleston and started all 19 games as a graduate transfer for the Cougars. He scored in double figures in 15 games where he averaged 13.4 points, 3.2 rebounds and 3.1 assists in 34.4 minutes of action per game.
For his career, Willis has started 60 of the 113 games he has played in and he has averaged 7.4 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.9 steals.
Willis attended Fayetteville High School and averaged 15.9 points, 3.6 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.5 steals per game while also shooting 44.7% from three in his junior season and was honored as an all-conference and all-state selection as a sophomore and junior. Willis was ranked as the second-ranked player in the state of Arkansas, the 22nd-best point guard in the country by 247sports.com, and ranked as the 119th-best player in the nation by Rivals.com.
That couldn't be any truer for Payton Willis, who is headed back to Minnesota for his final season of college basketball. Willis spent the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons at Minnesota before playing at the College of Charleston last year as a graduate transfer.
"Payton is a tremendous person and a terrific basketball player and we are excited to welcome him back to Minnesota," said head coach Ben Johnson. "I feel like I have been recruiting him my entire coaching career and am looking forward to the versatility and leadership he will bring to our team. He has been through the battles and has played against some terrific competition in college. Payton can do a little bit of everything. He is a versatile offensive player who can play in pick-n-rolls, score various ways, make open threes and defend at a high level. I love the way he plays the game and how much he enjoys to compete. I am excited that he gets to play once again at Williams Arena for the Minnesota fans."
Willis started his college career at Vanderbilt where he started 16 of the 66 games he competed in. He averaged 5.1 points, 1.6 assists and 1.8 rebounds per game in his Commodore career.
Willis then transferred to Minnesota and sat out the 2018-19 season in compliance with NCAA rules. He started 25 of 27 games in 2019-20 and was fourth on team in scoring (8.9), second in assists (53) and third in steals (21).
The Fayetteville, Ark., native then transferred to the College of Charleston and started all 19 games as a graduate transfer for the Cougars. He scored in double figures in 15 games where he averaged 13.4 points, 3.2 rebounds and 3.1 assists in 34.4 minutes of action per game.
For his career, Willis has started 60 of the 113 games he has played in and he has averaged 7.4 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.9 steals.
Willis attended Fayetteville High School and averaged 15.9 points, 3.6 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.5 steals per game while also shooting 44.7% from three in his junior season and was honored as an all-conference and all-state selection as a sophomore and junior. Willis was ranked as the second-ranked player in the state of Arkansas, the 22nd-best point guard in the country by 247sports.com, and ranked as the 119th-best player in the nation by Rivals.com.
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Cinematic Recap: Gophers-Bruins
Monday, March 02