Will Riley was a highly rated player coming into the 2024-25 season. He was a five-star recruit and the top player in Illinois’ five-man freshman class. Riley,  who originally hails from Canada, played his prep ball in Pennsylvania. Brad Underwood knew exactly what he was getting in Riley. He was ready to show off his high volume shooting ability the minute he arrived in Champaign. Despite his high rating, Riley wasn’t an automatic starter when he arrived on campus. Still, he proved to be a very important piece for the Fighting Illini. The hype late in the season led to Will Riley’s NBA Draft decision. Like his teammate Kasparas Jakucionis, Riley sits in a good position to be a high draft choice in June.

Will Riley 2025 NBA Draft Profile
College Career

With so much talent already in Champaign, Will Riley came in without a starting spot waiting for him. He didn’t let that hold him back, though, as Riley quickly became arguably the best player for Illinois off their bench. He played 25.7 minutes a game despite not being a starter in 26 of his 35 outings. His debut game saw him score 31 points. Riley’s first start came in early January, as the Illini began to experiment with their lineup, along with injuries occurring to Jakucionis and others. Not to mention, Ben Humrichous‘ lack of consistency also gave Riley a chance to prove that he was a great option at the three spots.

He made two starts in January, before he quickly went back to coming off the bench. He went on a five-game stretch of scoring no more than seven points around that time. That changed dramatically as he was huge in a game on the road at Michigan State. With Jakucionis in foul trouble, Riley came in and gave the Spartans strong defenders a tough time. He finished the game with 19 points, further showcasing that he can take over a game at any point. His effort wasn’t enough to get the win on the road, but it proved he was ready for a bigger role.

He was continuing to see big minutes, but he hit another level at the close of the regular season, as the Illini lost Morez Johnson Jr. for the rest of the season, and Tre White completely disappeared. That gave Riley the chance to start the final seven games. In three of those games, he scored at least 21 points.

Strengths

Riley certainly has something NBA scouts like: length. His 6-foot-8 frame made things difficult for defenders. Especially when taken into account, he was playing at the three most of the time. He is a modern two-way wing. Riley is very comfortable around the perimeter. Has a great pull-up game and isn’t afraid to pop it from deep. His jumper is very similar to that of Kevin Durant. He isn’t afraid to move the ball. He averaged 2.2 assists per game and showed great vision while moving. Riley  certainly has the means to become a big shot maker. He stood up well against some of the best players in the country. Riley is only 19, but very mature and not afraid to play big minutes.

Mar 21, 2025; Milwaukee, WI, USA: Illinois Fighting Illini forward Will Riley (7) drives to the hoop past Xavier Musketeers forward Jerome Hunter (2) during the second half at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images

Riley isn’t afraid to play defense, and is very skilled at pushing a fast-break off a defensive rebound. His length can help him defend 1-4 on the court.

Weaknesses

Will Riley’s NBA Draft hopes lie with him developing consistency. That was a big knock on him at Illinois. Sure, he had plenty of impactful moments, but there were also periods where he struggled offensively. His 32.6 percent accuracy from deep needs to be cleaned up. He’s a volume shooter, but confidence needs to be assured. His free-throw percentage was right around 72 percent, but he struggled in high-pressure situations at the line. Riley is still pretty raw, so an adjustment period could limit him early.

NBA Comparison

Will Riley, at this point, seems more like a long-term player. The team that ultimately lands him will need to keep developing him. He has the durability to remain on the floor, but lacks experience at this point. That’s the type of thing that could keep him from his real value in the 2025 NBA Draft. He seemed like a lottery-type pick early on, and even during the season, but more likely falls to late first round because he’s a long-term player, not someone to plug right into the starting lineup. He can easily be compared to the likes of Jaylen Wells from the Memphis Grizzlies. Wells was a second-round pick last season, but quickly grew into being an important piece for Memphis before getting hurt.

Another player you can look to in a similar mold is Allan Houston. Houston was a lottery pick in 1993 by the Pistons. Houston started slow, but the more time he put in, the better he got. He eventually became a two-time All-Star. Riley has a chance to live up to that. He’s young, so he’s still got time to grow.

2025 NBA Draft Projection

Late 1st Round

Photo credit: © David Banks-Imagn Images