SNAPSHOT
A wing with plenty of upside and a high ceiling when it comes to shot creation, Will Riley is an intriguing prospect heading into the 2025 NBA Draft, and may tempt teams close to the top 20 with his impressive potential and immense excitement.
Although he is still a raw prospect, there is plenty of upside in his game and he has quite a high ceiling on the offensive end, and if he can properly develop his game at the top level, Riley may just be a worthy investment.
DRAFT PROFILE
Born and raised in Ontario, Canada, Riley emerged as the top prospect from his country throughout his high school years, thriving when moving to The Phelps School in Pennsylvania, as well as being named MVP for several tournaments including the Basketball Without Borders Camp.
A five-star recruit, Riley committed to Illinois for his collegiate career, opting to join the Fighting Illini despite plenty of interest from other teams. He was initially set to be a part of the 2025 class, but committed to Illinois a year earlier after reclassifying.
Riley had a tremendous start to his time in the collegiate system, being named Big Ten Freshman of the Week in November, and setting the Fighting Illini scoring record. He went on to claim the award on two more occasions, and claimed the Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year honour for his efforts as well.
Throughout the 2024/25 NCAA season, Riley posted numbers of 12.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 0.3 steals and 0.3 blocks per game while shooting 43.2 per cent from the field, 32.6 per cent from behind the arc and 72.4 per cent from the charity stripe.
STRENGTHS
+ Inside scoring
+ Playmaking
+ Potential as a shooter
+ Contributions off the ball
IMPROVEMENTS
- Defensive impact
- Shooting consistency
Riley looks at his best when he is looking to attack the paint and finish at the cup, with this proving his most reliable method of scoring. He is not afraid of contact with ball in hand, and uses a tight handle to put the ball on the floor and take the defence off the dribble.
The wing also has an impressive arsenal as a passer, showcasing strong vision and execution to create scoring opportunities for his teammates. Riley is tidy with ball in hand, not giving up careless turnovers and firing off red-hot passes to completely open up the play.
Although he is not quite there as a shooter just yet, the upside is evident given how confident he looks on this front. He looks extremely comfortable pulling up for midrange shots and has no troubles shooting the ball from range, with the results set to come when his shooting gets more consistent.
Riley could do with some work on the defensive side of his game, often outmuscled and bullied by stronger opponents on the drive. If he can put on some size and become more switched on defensively, it will make him less likely to be targeted by the opposition.
DRAFT PROJECTION: First round
Riley's offensive upside is simply too much to see him slide down to the second round, with his ability to score on the drive and playmaking a serious weapon for the wing, and if he can become a better shooter and more competent defender, he will be a much more balanced prospect.
