University of Minnesota Athletics
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Get to Know Men's Basketball's Chansey Willis Jr.
6/25/2025 12:46:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Chansey Willis Jr. hails from Detroit, Mich., and transferred to Minnesota from Western Michigan. With the Broncos last season, he led the Mid-American Conference in scoring when he averaged 16.8 points and 5.8 assists and ranked fifth in the league in steals per game (1.7) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.8). Despite playing in 24 games, Willis Jr. was named an All-MAC Second Team selection and a CSC Academic All-District honoree. Before WMU, Willis Jr. played at Henry Ford College where he was named the MCCAA Eastern Conference Player of the Year. His first year, Willis Jr., played at Saginaw Valley State and averaged 12.0 points and 3.8 rebounds per game for the Cardinals. A standout two-sport high school athlete at Detroit King High School he lettered in both basketball and football. In 2022, Willis Jr. was named Michigan's Mr. Basketball, Michigan's 2022 Gatorade Player of the Year, AP Division I Michigan Player of the Year and First Team All-State. He nearly averaged a triple-double as a senior, putting up 24 points, 10 rebounds and 9.5 assists per game. Get to know more about Willis Jr., in this question/answer session.
Why Minnesota?
I chose Minnesota because it was just a great fit. I came on a visit and it felt like home. Coming from Western Michigan and Kalazamoo, I've always been close to home. This is away from Detroit and farther from home. I wanted to be uncomfortable to get comfortable.
For those who don't know your style, how would you describe your game?
Maybe it's the name, but Chauncey Billups from the Detroit Pistons. Just bringing leadership. That's really what I'm here to do. I'm here to make everybody around me better.
What other sports did you play and when did you really start focusing on basketball?
I played football as well. I have two state championships in high school at Martin Luther King when we won it my senior year and ninth-grade year. I played JV as a ninth-grade quarterback and then I moved up. It was too cold to play football so I focused on playing basketball. I didn't know how good I was, but I didn't want to be bored before the basketball season so I started playing football. I always played it as a little kid, so played it through high school.
First couple weeks of practice, but what's been your impression of the coaching staff so far?
They are great. They make me feel comfortable. They bring energy, bring smiles and that's all I'm about. Players need that. That's how my mom raised me to just smile.
How have you been able to get to know your teammates?
At the end of the day, we all have to come together as a brotherhood. It's been great. I've gotten to know the guys on and off the court so far. It's great to just vibe with all of them.
Proudest accomplishment on or off the court?
Man, that's a hard question, I don't know if I can really pick just one, it's a lot and I'm thankful for everything.
What are you most looking forward to heading into the season?
Winning games!
Favorite NBA Player:Steph Curry
Favorite Food: Salmon
What you're streaming right now: BMF that's back out of Detroit. I'm also watching Baddies with my girlfriend so she's got me hooked on that.
If I wasn't playing basketball I'd: probably be a basketball coach!