Why Carson Vis chose to transfer to Northern Iowa

Carson Vis shoots a jumper during a pickup basketball game at Hudsonville High School in July 2025. He transferred to the University of Northern Iowa from Western Michigan. (Photo | Lenny Padilla).

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Carson Vis has found a new home in a new state, new team with a new coach. And he couldn’t be happier.

The 2025 grad of Grand Rapids South Christian High School signed with the University of Northern Iowa this week. 

“I feel great. It’s a new start,” Vis said. “And we’re gonna give it all we got to win the Missouri Valley and make a run.”
Northern Iowa, a Division I program in Cedar Falls, Iowa, was 23-13 last season and 11-9 in the Missouri Valley Conference.

Why Northern Iowa?

“They recruited me out of high school so I had a good connection with the staff and how they play and everything like that,” Vis said. “Their coach left for the Utah State job but the new coach they brought in is great.” 

The Panthers hired Kyle Green on April 1 to replace Ben Jacobson, who had coached UNI for the past 20 years. Green is retaining three coaches from last year’s staff.

Vis played last season at Western Michigan University where he played in all 31 games as a true freshman. The 6-foot-4 guard averaged 5.3 points while playing 14.3 minutes per game. But WMU struggled to a 10-21 record and head coach Dwayne Stephens was fired after the season. So half of the roster jumped into the NCAA transfer portal, including Vis.

"It definitely is sad leaving Western since it’s so close to home and all my family,” Vis said. “But it’s all God’s plan.”

Vis started all four seasons at South Christian, scoring more than 1,600 career points.