Tall, dynamic shot-making wings like Will Riley often garner quite a bit of NBA buzz. Riley’s combine measurements underscored his excellent combination of height, skill and shooting upside. He’ll need to add plenty of muscle and strength as most teenagers do, but Riley’s size and offensive skillset form a rare prospect package.
Team: Illinois
Height: 6’8
Weight: 186 lbs
Wingspan: 6’9
Age: 19.4 (February 10, 2006)
Will Riley— Wing, Illinois (19.4 years old)
NBA Comparison: Kevin Huerter, Jaylen Wells
Riley could find success in the NBA in a similar manner to Kevin Huerter, who thrived as an ancillary wing creator and off-ball shooter next to an elite initiator point guard in Trae Young. If Riley can’t develop into a quality starter or low-end star, he could weaponize his size and shooting to add value as an off-ball role player who can hopefully bulk up to add value on defense.
Strengths
Versatile shotmaker who flashes greatness as a tough on-ball shooter
Impressive playmaker for his size, uses jump passes and height to pass through and over defenses, especially on interior passes
Physical, aggressive driver who seeks and absorbs contact despite his slighter frame and scores with great touch
Has a deep bag of dribble counters, comfortable spinning back and crossing when defenders cut him off
High motor helps him compensate for a lack of athletic tools on defense, some impressive screen navigation flashes
Weaknesses
Extremely frail without a long wingspan or reach, must add tons of muscle and functional strength to thrive at the NBA level
Lacks the burst or explosiveness to consistently create easy looks for himself on the ball
Prone to some reckless decisions as a passer, especially when he leaves the ground
Struggles to force misses defending the basket without great reach or vertical explosion
Limited defensive playmaker without positive explosive twitch or ground coverage speed
Offensive role: Wing Shotmaker/Secondary Playmaker
Defensive role: On-Ball Defender
2025 NBA Draft Projection: Round 1, Pick 16-20
Riley’s limited physical and athletic tools will narrow his margin for error in the NBA pending significant growth. There’s plenty of downside in Riley’s profile, but players with his height, shooting potential, ball skills and passing feel can far exceed their draft slot. Teams with strong player development should take a chance on Riley’s offensive upside.
