Casmir “Cash” Chavis, a 6-foot-2 sophomore guard from Brooklyn Park (MN) Park Center, is one of the state’s top players in the Class of 2024.
Chavis scored 21 points in DeLaSalle’s 61-58 loss to #1 ranked Class AAA Totino-Grace in the Breakdown Big 12 Classic and had ten in their 61-58 loss to Minneapolis South in the Breakdown Tip-Off Classic, losing to the Tigers at the buzzer after a made three-pointer.
Chavis left DeLaSalle during the season and after sitting ten days, he was eligible to play for Park Center.
Chavis averaged 7.8 points per game in ten games with the Pirates. He had two double figure games, including 15 points versus Rogers. Chavis had seven, six and six in the three state tournament games. His six points in the state title game proved helpful as Park Center defeated Wayzata 58-53 to win the Class AAAA title and finish the season 31-1.
GopherHole caught up with Chavis at Howard Pulley AAU tryouts to learn more about winning a state title, his early recruitment and upcoming AAU season.
GopherHole: You won the state title last night. What was that experience like?
Cash Chavis: It was a fun experience. It was a once in a lifetime, playing with those boys. Last year, they told me all the hard stuff they went through, losing to Champlin Park, so me coming in, I just knew that I had to play my role to make sure all the players were playing their game.
GopherHole: What was the feeling within the team when you were down by four with a few minutes to go?
Cash Chavis: We just had to stay together. Don’t let the four-point lead determine how we finish the game out.
GopherHole: What things are you really hoping to work on this spring and summer to continue to improve yourself as a player?
Cash Chavis: Getting my shot down. One-two pullup. Finishing better and my defense.
GopherHole: You left DeLaSalle and came to Park Center. How tough of an adjustment was that during the season?
Cash Chavis: It was pretty tough, but I knew most of their players, so it was tough getting into the school, but it was like a weird adjustment for me.
GopherHole: It was the first time that Park Center had won the state basketball title. Had you heard from a lot of people in the area and people that had gone to games as fans for awhile saying “that it would be nice for you to win a title for the city?”
Cash Chavis: Yes, when I was first got to the school, everybody was talking about how we were going to win, because I came. It is just a blessing that we won.
GopherHole: What was the highlight of the season to you?
Cash Chavis: When the buzzer went off in the state championship game and we just won it and it felt like just happiness.
GopherHole: I know that you had a gathering at the school afterwards. What was that experience like?
Cash Chavis: That was just a moment that I won’t ever get back, so I’m glad that I didn’t take that moment for granted. Having the seniors speak again and just hearing them thank everybody, it was just nice to hear.
GopherHole: Are you starting to hear from some more schools yet?
Cash Chavis: Yes, I am. Oklahoma State, Illinois and Colorado State.
GopherHole: You are hoping to hear from more schools, but what is it going to mean to you to play Division I basketball?
Cash Chavis: It is a big opportunity for me. I just want to make the right plays and all that, so colleges look at me. I don’t want to try too much, because I might start messing up. I just have to play my game.