Big Ten Basketball: Top 20 impact transfers heading into 2021-22 season

18. Payton Willis – Minnesota

The 6-4 College of Charleston transfer is hoping that his second time around in Minneapolis will be better than the under-nine points and four rebounds he averaged during the 2019-20 season. He should be able to pick up where he left off as a starter after averaging over 13 points for the Cougars last season.

Willis will start in the backcourt with the aforementioned Luke Loewe, and provide the shooting range in the backcourt that Loewe has yet to demonstrate on a regular basis. While playing off-guard for the Cougars, Willis connected on over two three-pointers per game at 40 percent. A percentage that would have been the highest among players who had attempted more than four three-pointers for Minnesota last season.

Regardless of his three-point success, Willis tends to look for the open man before he looks for his own shot, combined with his ability to take defenders off the dribble in the CAA, Willis would drive to the basket as well. His ability to finish in traffic and avoid contact in the paint is illustrated by the fact that he attempted 43 free throws in 19 games last season. A total that was third-most on the team, yet 38 fewer than Brenden Tucker who played 171 fewer minutes.

Willis will have the word ‘shooting’ attached to his guard position and this looks to be the role he will be asked to fill in the Golden Gophers’ half-court sets this season. The combination of him and Loewe will put a lot of pressure on defenders as they are both a threat to put the ball on the floor and drive.