NBA Comparison: Jaylen Wells

Strengths: Riley is a thin 6’9 185 lb SF/SG with plenty of size on the perimeter for NBA standards and a developing frame that can easily add muscle mass without the loss of athleticism … Has put on at least 15 lbs since the end of his Sr. season of HS, a promising development that speaks to his willingness to work hard on improving physically…A smooth athlete with good coordination and mobility for his height, and long strides that allow him to cover ground well on the court … Pretty decent skill level offensively, with signs of good ball-handling ability and a soft shooting touch in the mid-range and from distance that he can be effective with even against contests at times due to his size and quick release (12.2 PPG, 47 made 3s as a Fr.)…Has an easy and natural looking shot and has flashed deep range…Likes to shoot off the dribble going right, and has some ability to change tempos or make subtle crossovers off the bounce to create space…Not a selfish player; decent IQ & feel for the game and he can see over the defense to find open players if the defense is out of position, giving him upside as a playmaking valve (2.2 APG, 1.8 A:TO)…Some comfort level initiating open floor offense after rebounding missed shots (4.1 RPG)…Willing to move without the ball and cut for some easy baskets, showing signs of good floor awareness…Had more ‘and-1s’ and is better near the rim than you’d expect for such a slender player; his budding ability to convert shots in the paint through contact will likely only get better as he gets bigger and stronger…Played his best basketball down the stretch of the season; seemed like the game slowed down for him a bit during the last month or so as he flashed his upside offensively

Weaknesses: Despite adding weight, Riley is still a bit light in the britches and it can effect him on both ends of the floor; was among the most thin players at the NBA combine despite being 6’8 without shoes…Not necessarily afraid of contact, but he can struggle to deal with physical play and get neutralized when stronger players go at him at times…A smooth athlete but he’s not particularly explosive at the moment; could become more dynamic with added strength and an emphasis on plyometric work at the pro level…Has the touch and profile needed to be an effective shooter, but his consistency and confidence with it wasn’t always there as a Fr. which led to mediocre efficiency (32 3FG%, 20 games with 1 made 3-pointer or less)…Needs rhythm and can struggle with settling when you take away the things he wants to do offensively…Not the most fundamentally sound defender; plays with a bit of a high center of gravity that make him susceptible to getting beat to spots or steamrolled on the ball…Also not a playmaking or disruptive off-ball defender currently, and will at times fall asleep and find himself out of position against more savvy players who can move and navigate screens without the ball (0.3 SPG, 0.3 BPG)…Rebounding rates weren’t anything to write home about for a 6’8 player, further illustrating his lack of strength and the finesse he plays with (2.9 DRPG)…Green and will require patience; not yet the sum of his parts

Overall: Will Riley is a Canadian-born swingman who was a consensus 5-star prospect in the 2024 HS class after spending a couple of years playing in PA…He committed during his Sr. season to be a part of a highly regarded class at Illinois for Coach Underwood and is considered to be among the highest rated recruits in school history…His college career started with a 31 point performance in his very first game and he started the season playing pretty well in the first few games, but ran into a wall and struggled for a chunk of the season with the growing pains that often come as a Fr. playing high major basketball, especially in a physically demanding league like the Big 10, but he rebounded in the last month or 2 of the season and began to emerge as one of Illinois’ best players as his minutes and comfort increased which led to Riley being named the Big 10 6th Man of the Year…He and teammate and fellow Fr. NBA Draft prospect Kasparas Jakucionis helped lead the Fighting Illini to a Round of 32 finish to the season and Riley’s draft stock became more solidified…He did himself a favor by measuring out well at the 2025 NBA Combine, having gotten an inch taller and 15 lbs heavier than the last time he had official measurements taken in 2024…He brings some intrigue with his shooting potential, floor game and passing ability, and there are dimensions to his game that will certainly have teams wanting to get their hands on him to continue to unearth his upside….He will need to continue to add strength to be more prepared for the physicality that comes with the pro game, as well as improving his defensive instincts and fundamentals as a whole, but he is a project that will intrigue teams and could prove to be a valuable piece with patience…Riley has a draft range that seems to be somewhere in the middle of the 1st round as of writing …

Notes: Measured 6’8.25” barefoot, 185.6 lbs, with a 6’8.75” wingspan, 8’8.00” standing reach, 27.5″ no-step vertical, and 32.0″ max vertical at the 2025 NBA Draft Combine … Also measured 6’8″, 178 lbs, 6’7″ wingspan, 8’9.25″ standing reach, and 30.25″ max vertical at the 2024 Basketball Without Borders … Measured 6’7″, 172 lbs, 6’6″ wingspan, and 8’6″ standing reach at the 2024 Nike Hoop Summit … Born February 10, 2006 in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada … Played for the NBA Academy Latin America prior to enrolling at Illinois … Appeared in 35 games as a freshman in 2024–25, averaging 12.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 0.3 steals in 25.6 minutes per game … Shot 43.2% from the field, 32.6% from three, and 72.4% from the free-throw line … Faced late-season challenges due to injury and illness that affected his production and rhythm … Considered one of the top long-term NBA prospects in Canada’s 2006-born class.

Jorrye Nixon 5/22/25

Strengths: Long, athletic small forward with promising tools and considerable long-term upside … Riley measured at 6’6” and possesses fluid mobility, a strong foundation for a modern two-way wing … Flashes advanced perimeter skills — particularly as a shooter off the catch and in space … Comfortable stepping into mid-range pull-ups and shows potential as a floor-spacer despite inconsistency … Shot 43.2% from the field and averaged 12.6 points per game as a freshman at Illinois … Still learning, but he has real self-creation potential in the open floor and in transition … Averaged 2.2 assists per game — shows glimpses of playmaking vision on the move … Can attack closeouts or push off defensive rebounds to start fast breaks … Has a clean, compact release and doesn’t lack confidence when spotting up … Defensively, Riley’s tools stand out — long arms, quick feet, and good recovery ability make him a versatile defender at 2–4 positions … Plays with energy, especially when switching or rotating … Averaged 2.2 rebounds and 0.3 blocks and steals apiece — not dominant numbers, but hints at defensive impact as he matures physically … At just 19 years old, he’s one of the younger prospects in the class and already held his own in a major conference … Strong candidate to develop into a switchable, shot-making wing with modern NBA appeal … Offensive decision-making remains a work in progress — but was able to average near 2/1 A/TO ratio. 2.2 assists to 1.2 turnovers …

Weaknesses: Still developing his consistency and polish offensively … Three-point shooting (32.6%) showed flashes, but lacked rhythm and balance at times — needs to improve shot mechanics and confidence from deep … Free throw percentage (72.4%) was decent but doesn’t yet indicate reliable shooting touch under pressure … Handle is still raw — struggles to create separation in tight spaces or when guarded physically … Prone to forcing shots or fading out of games when pressured … Doesn’t yet play with consistent tempo or feel in the half-court … Needs to add strength — can be bumped off his line and lacks power finishing through contact … Defensively, he has tools but occasionally loses track off the ball or bites on fakes … Rebounding (4.1 RPG) can improve with added physicality and urgency — often leaks out early … Still raw — not a refined shot creator or defender at this stage and needs time to develop NBA-level habits … Nagging injuries limited some late-season momentum and added to his overall inconsistency … Catch and shoot numbers were impacted as season went along. Struggled with consistency … Scouts view him as a long-term investment rather than a plug-and-play contributor … Has a negative wingspan-to-height ape index, but makes up for it some with a respectable standing reach reportedly ranging from 8’6″ to 8’9.5″, depending on the source … Better in the half court than in transition at this point. Strength obviously a factor …

Outlook: Riley is a high-upside prospect with good size and tools for the NBA wing position. Though raw and inconsistent, he impressed in flashes during his freshman season, averaging 12.6 points and earning key minutes for Illinois. His blend of size, shot-making upside, and defensive versatility give him real long-term appeal. If his three-point shooting becomes consistent and his physical development continues, Riley has the potential to grow into a starter or high-level rotation player. A likely late first or early second-round pick for a team looking to invest in one of the younger, more intriguing wings in the class.

Notes:  Will Riley measured 6′ 8.25” barefoot, 185.6 lbs, 6′ 8.75” wingspan, 8′ 8.00” standing reach with a 27.5 no step vertical and 32.0 maximum vertical at the 2025 NBA Draft Combine. … Measured: 6’8″, 8’9.25″ standing reach, 178 lbs, 6’7″ wingspan, 30.25″ max vert at the 2024 Basketball Without Borders … Measured: 6’7″, 8’6″ standing reach, 172 lbs, 6’6″ wingspan at the 2024 Nike Hoop Summit …Born Feb 10, 2006 … Originally from Kitchener, Ontario, Canada … Joined Illinois after competing with the NBA Academy Latin America and earning buzz as one of the top international prospects in the 2006-born class … Appeared in 35 games as a freshman, averaging 25.6 minutes, 12.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game … Faced some late-season challenges stemming from both injury and illness., which impacted production and rhythm … Still just scratching the surface of his talent — long considered one of Canada’s highest-upside long-term NBA prospects in his class …

Aran Smith – 4/12/25

Strengths: 6’8 wing … Very good shooter and scorer. Shoots well off the catch or dribble. Can shoot while moving and stop on a dime. Shot has good arc and ball rotation. A threat to score from anywhere on the court. Scores with either hand at the rim after long strides. Scores well from midrange with an effective pull-up and touch on floater/runner. Shoots well from 3PT and is comfortable beyond the NBA 3PT line. Adept at hitting tough shots … Good free throw shooter … Moves well off the ball … Handles the ball well and creates for himself in the half-court. Makes good reads with the ball and doesn’t over-dribble. Effective crossover and his shooting success makes defenders bite on his hesitations. Good use of pivot and footwork … Handles face-guarding, full-court defense, and double-teams well … Good playmaker and passer … Plays with good energy while still under control … Good feel for the game …

Weaknesses: Has used his size to his advantage shooting over smaller defenders but his length isn’t great relative to height with a 6’7 wingspan and 8’6 standing reach … Narrow body frame and lacks strength … Moves with fluidity but isn’t a real explosive … Picks up his dribble early at times … Isn’t real quick laterally and lacks physicality as a defender …

Outlook: Illinois freshman … MVP of the 2024 Basketball Without Borders Global camp … Played in the 2024 Nike Hoop Summit …

Evan Tomes 10/31/24