Huskies sign four-star recruit ‘Cash’ Chavis to 2024 UW men’s basketball team

The Huskies’ move to the Big Ten next season is paying early dividends for the Washington men’s basketball team, which on Wednesday signed Casmir “Cash” Chavis, a four-star recruit from Minneapolis.

“Now that we’re in the Big Ten, recruiting becomes a little more broad,” UW coach Mike Hopkins said. “A lot more options and opportunity. We watched him. Our staff does a great job watching players. We’re at so many different events and you come across guys.

“Some guys see how you want to play, and we’re playing fast, more man-to-man and aggressive. He fits our system and fits our culture. Really excited to get him.”

Chavis, who is ranked 185th nationally and seventh in Minnesota, according to 24/7Sports.com, picked UW over West Virginia, Georgia and Arizona State.

“Recruiting is very, very competitive on the West Coast,” Hopkins said when asked about the advantages of recruiting in the Midwest. “It just gives you more opportunities. Kids want their families to see them.

“So now there’s only going to be four West Coast teams [UCLA, USC, Oregon and UW] playing all across the country [in the Big Ten], so that gives us a lot more opportunities. … Minnesota has been a great recruiting ground.”

Chavis — a 6-foot-2, 180-pound combo guard who played at Park Center High in Brooklyn Park, Minn. — is the first 2024 recruit for Washington, which will lose fifth-year guards Sahvir Wheeler, Paul Mulcahy and Anthony Holland next season.

Sophomore guards Koren Johnson and Nate Calmese are slated to return and the Huskies are still in the running to land former Curtis High point guard and five-star prospect Zoom Diallo, who is also considering Arizona and Gonzaga.

After securing Chavis, UW has four remaining scholarships available, assuming everyone returns next season.

“Really excited about Cash,” Hopkins said. “Love basketball players that play football. He’s tough, hardworking and really talented. … He really competes on the defensive end, as well as the offense. He’s got a great future.”