BREAKING-ICYMI: Gophers add pair of guards via transfer portal
The Minnesota Gophers men’s basketball team has bolstered its backcourt with two new additions in as many days.
On Monday, Western Michigan point guard Chansey Willis committed to the Gophers, following Sunday’s announcement that combo guard Langston Reynolds from Northern Colorado was joining the program.
“Chansey is a terrific playmaker who elevates the performance of those around him,” said Gophers head coach Niko Medved in a statement. “He’s a dynamic scorer who uses his quickness effectively and excels on both ends of the court. We’re thrilled to have him with us.”
Willis, a 6-foot-2, 190-pound guard from Detroit, averaged 16.8 points and 5.8 assists over 24 games last season. He shot 43% overall, 28% from beyond the arc, and 72% from the free-throw line. With stops at Saginaw Valley State and Henry Ford College before Western Michigan, he could have up to two years of eligibility remaining, thanks to recent NCAA rule changes that don’t count junior college seasons against eligibility.
In 2022, Willis was named Michigan’s Gatorade Player of the Year.
The team officially announced Reynolds’ signing on Monday as well.
“We’re excited to welcome Langston,” Medved said. “He’s a tough, athletic guard who thrives in transition, attacks the basket, and rebounds well. He also brings great energy and personality to the team.”
Reynolds, who is 6-foot-4 and 205 pounds, entered the transfer portal in late March and visited Texas A&M, though it’s uncertain what other schools were seriously interested. Known for his scoring, he averaged 16.0 points last season while shooting 59% from the field — ranking 20th nationally — along with 41% from three and 67% from the free-throw line. He also contributed 5.6 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 2.7 turnovers per game.
While he didn’t shoot many threes (just 1.6 attempts per game), Reynolds made significant strides during his three seasons and played a key role in helping Northern Colorado share the Big Sky regular-season title last year.
Minnesota now has four open scholarship spots remaining for the upcoming season.