Kent State Golden Flashes guard Cian Medley (11) and Western Michigan Broncos guard Chansey Willis Jr. (2) make a play for a loose ball during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the quarterfinals of the Mid-American Conference Tournament at Rocket Arena on Thursday, March 13, 2025, in Cleveland, Ohio. Jeff Lange / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Gophers land transfer portal commitment from All-MAC guard Chansey Willis jr.

Originally posted on Minnesota Golden Gophers on SI
By Tony Liebert | Last updated Apr 14, 2025 11:59 AM ET

Western Michigan transfer guard Chansey Willis Jr. committed to the Gophers on Monday. The 2024-25 All-MAC second-team performer will bring a unique skillset to Minnesota's backcourt next season.

BREAKING: Western Michigan transfer guard Chansey Willis Jr. has committed to the Gophers. @247HSHoops was first.

Listed at 6-foot-2, he averaged 16.8p, 4.3r and 5.4a per game last season on 42.4/28.4/72.4 shooting splits. Former Michigan Gatorade POTY. https://t.co/UfMG9RLM0I pic.twitter.com/6Sc1OdlPOh
— Tony Liebert (@TonyLiebert) April 14, 2025

Listed at 6-foot-2, Willis averaged 16.8 points, 4.3 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game on 42.4/28.4/72.4 shooting splits last season. He scored more than 20 points eight times, with a season-high 34 points against Ohio on February 25.

He was a decorated high school player at Detroit King High School, where he averaged a near triple-double as a senior and took home the 2022 Michigan Gatorade Player of the Year and Michigan Mr. Basketball honors.

He began his college career at Division II Saginaw Valley State before playing at Henry Ford College at the junior college (JUCO) level in 2023-24. Based on ex-Gopher guard Brennan Rigsby's case and many others, years spent at the JUCO level are no longer expected to count against NCAA eligibility, so Willis Jr. could have up to two years of eligibility remaining.

He joins Northern Colorado's Langston Reynolds as Minnesota's second transfer portal addition to the backcourt over the last two days. With Isaac Asuma returning and Kai Shinholster entering as a true freshman, the Gophers now have four scholarship guards on their 2025-26 roster.

The experience of Reynolds and Willis might give them an advantage over Asuma, but Minnesota now has three legit ball-handlers who've shown the ability to play on and off the ball at the college level.

Willis is the Gophers' sixth overall addition from the transfer portal and they now have five spots available for next season's roster.