Mason Gillis thrilled his parents, Bill and Tammy, with a groundbreaking mark in NCAA history on April 6, 2025, accomplishing a feat by reaching the Final Four with two different schools in back-to-back years.
The 24-year-old basketball player, Mason, made NCAA history as the first athlete to compete in the Final Four with two different teams in consecutive years, Purdue in 2024 and Duke in 2025.
Behind the success of the collegiate basketball player are his parents, Bill Gillis and Tammy McCall, who have shaped him every step of the way.
If you didn’t know, Bill Gillis and Tammy McCall were athletes themselves, so sports were a big part of the Gillis household.
Bill, a 6-foot-7 center, played basketball at Ball State University in the early 1990s, and Tammy was a cross country runner at the same school.
Indeed, their love for sports was passed down to Mason and his sister, Lauryn, who later played volleyball.
Mason Gillis Credits His Parents for Letting Him Experiment With Sports Until He Found His Passion!
Growing up in New Castle, Indiana, the Gillis family was known as the “sports family,” always trying out different games like basketball, baseball, football, and soccer.
In an interview with The Exponent on July 11, 2021, Mason said, “Having the background from all of those sports can only improve your athleticism, teamwork, work ethic, and your ability to mesh with different types of people.“
In fact, the basketball player attributes his parents for letting him and his sister Lauryn experiment with sports until they found what they loved.
Bill once said,
We noticed along their journey that they were pretty talented. Once they got older, they got to pick which one they were interested in and excelled in.
Bill Gillis
Mason’s parents didn’t just were his biggest cheerers, but they made sacrifices to help him chase his dreams.
Bill, a former college athlete, knew what it took to succeed. He encouraged Mason to stay strong in school and finish what he started.
His father inspired him to study business at Purdue and pursue an MBA.
Likewise, Mason’s dad, Bill, expressed his pride in his children, saying:
I’m very proud of my kids. I’m very blessed to have my family.
Mason Gillis
Similarly, Mason has also spoken about how his parents’ sacrifices shaped his goals.
“I wouldn’t have it any other way,” Mason told The Exponent, talking about how his parents’ openness to different sports built his skills and character.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- At Purdue, Mason Gillis averaged 6.3 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.4 assists over 132 games. At Duke this season, he’s averaging 4.2 points and 2.6 rebounds in about 15 minutes per game, bringing veteran leadership off the bench.
- His sister, Lauryn, played volleyball at Wisconsin and South Carolina.
