Will Riley

A tall wing with flashes of impressive shot creation and passing ability, Will Riley has the tools to out perform his projected draft slot. Coming off the bench for most of his freshman season at Illinois, Riley had a bit of an up and down season. He started off strong as a scorer, shooting efficiently from three and in the mid-range, but had a bit of an adjustment period in the midst of conference play. He showcased what makes him such an enticing prospect during the stretch run of the season, taking on more ball-handling opportunities, scoring more efficiently inside the arc, and having flashes of tough-shot making. Riley has a high upside on the offensive end given his shooting and passing vision, but will need to put on a decent amount of size and prove he can impact the game on the defensive end.

Strengths:

  • Handles the ball well for a wing at his height. Comfortable running pick and rolls and making passing reads.

  • Shot well on contested jumpers this season. Can shoot over defenders and create off the dribble.

  • Solid touch around the basket when he can create separation from his defender.

  • Microwave scoring ability from beyond the arc. Can make tough shots off the dribble from deep when in a rhythm.

  • Smart cutter who moves well off the ball.

Weaknesses:

  • Lacks length and overall defensive impact. Low block and steal rate.

  • Struggles to create clean looks off the dribble against physical perimeter defenders.

  • Needs to add size to his frame in order to play with more physicality on both ends.

  • Had rough stretches as a shooter during his freshman season, despite a strong track record as a shooter pre-college.