In today’s NBA, if a player is a 6’9″ forward who can create his own shot and make plays for others, scouts are going to pay attention. And that is precisely what Illinois forward prospect Will Riley brings to the table. It is also why he is one of the most intriguing prospects in the 2025 NBA Draft.
The Canadian Illini product may not have a long list of collegiate stats, but his versatility and upside have caught everyone’s attention. In a league where versatility is gold, Riley is a high-value asset. But Riley is not just relying on what scouts see. He has a take of his own on his gameplay.
Prospect Will Riley Breaks Down His Unique Game Ahead of NBA Draft
In a recent interview on “The Sideline with Andy Katz,” when asked about his gameplay, Illinois NBA Draft prospect Will Riley radiated confidence.
As Riley sees it, “I’ve gotten a lot of comparisons from other people, but personally, I’d like to say I have flashes of Shai [Gilgeous-Alexander], LaMelo [Ball], Kevin Durant, and Jayson Tatum. I feel like I can combine a lot of their games.”
But Riley isn’t trying to say he is KD or Shai. Instead, he believes he has pieces of all of them. “I have a very unique game… I don’t play like a certain player, but flashes of those types of players for sure,” added Riley. What exactly is this gameplay?
Riley’s shot creation off the dribble isn’t elite yet, but the way he moves off-ball is quite KD-like. His IQ, especially as a secondary playmaker, comes through when he makes skip passes to the weak side or drops it off for open shooters.
While Riley does not have the percentage yet, the potential is there. Riley shot 32.6% from deep and 43.2% overall during his freshman season at Illinois. But then his buckets are something to look at. He has a 44% success rate on floaters, and at-the-rim finishes stand at 60% in half-court sets. Now, that could be the SGA part.
“I make the right reads for sure. I’m a playmaker, and overall, I’m just a good scorer.” Last season, Riley averaged 12.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 2.2 assists in just over 25 minutes per game as a freshman. His assist-to-turnover ratio was nearly two-to-one.
NBA Mock Draft Simulator 2025: Where Do You Think Will Riley Should Land?
Riley truly is “A player who is very coachable, has a high IQ… on the ball and off the ball.” But it is not all sunshine and roses for Riley. He has some defensive issues. With just 0.3 steals and 0.3 blocks per game, and a wingspan that’s not exactly the best at 6’8.75″, he’ll need to rely on awareness and strength to survive early defensive matchups.
Additionally, Riley’s screen navigation needs work, and he’s not the most explosive player. But those aren’t deal-breakers. They’re fixable. And as NBA teams scour the draft board looking for wings who can stretch the floor, read the game, and be coached, it is not surprising that Riley’s name keeps popping up.
The 6’8.25″ forward (without shoes) was named Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year after an impressive freshman campaign where he mostly came off the bench until late in the season. Originally from Kitchener, Ontario, Riley reclassified from the 2025 class to 2024 to join Illinois early, making him one of the highest-rated recruits in school history.
According to ESPN’s latest mock draft, Will Riley is projected to go 19th overall to the Brooklyn Nets. With four first-round picks in hand (Nos. 8, 19, 26, and 27), the Nets are reportedly open to exploring trade options. However, if they decided to stick to their slot, Riley might just hear his name called.
With the 2025 NBA Draft set for June 25-26, the world is watching Riley and his moves closely.
