Leading up to the men's basketball regular-season opener on Nov. 6, GoStanford.com will profile all 15 student-athletes on the team and learn more about their interests, experiences and goals.
In the fifth edition of our Cardinal Capsule series, we get to know freshman Bryce Wills from New York, New York.
What is one thing people may not know about you?
Before basketball really took off for me, I was very musically inclined. In fifth and sixth grade, I played the saxophone. In eighth grade, I taught myself how to play the piano in music class. Throughout middle school, I was part of the vocal ensemble at my school.
Favorite song during your musical performance days?
Through my vocal ensemble, we performed a song from The Lion King.
Tell us about your family.
My family is very close. We watch and play a lot of sports. My mom has run in the New York City Marathon several times. Athletics is a big part of all us.
At 6-6, I am the tallest member of my family. My dad and my brother are both 5-8 and my mom is 5-4. I am the first Division I athlete in the family and I am excited for this opportunity.
Born and raised on the East Coast but having lived on the West Coast for a couple months now for school, what are the big differences in the two coasts?
The one that sticks out the most is the weather. It is insane how consistent the weather is out here and how sunny it is all the time. In New York, you could be really hot one day and the next day you could be wearing a heavy jacket. Outside of the weather, the people are more patient and more pleasant here. It is slower out here compared to the fast-paced lifestyle I am accustomed to in New York. I will have to adjust to that.
With you and Cormac both from New York and AAU teammates, did he have an impact on you coming to Stanford?
Absolutely. When he committed to Stanford, it made me think about Stanford even more. At the time, I was part of the 2019 class, but when I reclassified to 2018 it made me even more excited for the chance to come to Stanford with him. Cormac is someone I am comfortable with and, with going to school 3,000 miles from home, it is nice to share the experience with him.
While you won't declare a major until your junior year, do you have an area of interest in mind you may want to pursue in your studies?
The management, science and engineering track sticks out to me. I am also interested in psychology.
We had an opportunity to visit the Pac-12 Conference offices in San Francisco recently and it was very interesting to see all the work that goes on from scheduling, television, marketing and operations. That may be an area I want to pursue down the line. A lot of work goes on behind the scenes and it is interesting to see how it all comes together.
What, if any, are the differences between high school and college from a basketball perspective.
The physicality of the play at this level is different. It isn't a surprise, but it is an adjustment for sure.
Nickname?
A lot of people get my last name wrong and say Willis instead of Wills. People back home would call me Mr. Willis. Out here, Daejon called me Beasty B once and it has stuck with everyone.
