Illinois Basketball 2024-2025 Scouting Reports: Will Riley

Each day during the two weeks leading up to Illinois’ regular season opener on Nov. 4 at Champaign’s State Farm Center, Illinois on SI will share a scouting report highlighting every Illini player on the team’s official roster. Today, on the 12th of the 14th, we shine a light on forward Will Riley.

Sunday: Ty Rodgers

More Illini scouting reports

Where he comes from

Riley is from Kitchener, Ontario, which sounds about a million miles from Champaign, but the southern Canadian city just outside Toronto is actually an eight-hour drive from the Illinois campus. Originally a 2025 class recruit, Riley spent the last two years at the Phelps School in Malvern, Pennsylvania, and was reclassified to 2024 before signing with Illinois in June.

What he did

In addition to leading Phelps to a second-place finish in the Pennsylvania Independent Schools Athletic Association (PAISAA) tournament while playing with the Lions league (26.5 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game last season), Riley dominated the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League (EYBL) and the Basketball Without Borders Global Camp (where he was named MVP) during the NBA’s 2024 All-Star Weekend.

How he helps

Beyond his capabilities, Riley was a major recruiting coup for Illini coach Brad Underwood — a top-10 recruit in the Class of 2025 and the highest-rated recruit Illinois has landed during the Internet age. He turned down 17 other offers from power conference programs that actually have some relevance to future recruiting efforts. On the floor, Riley possesses an elite set of guard skills in a forward’s frame, with virtually unlimited offensive upside.

What they say

Underwood has been thrilled with the shooting, ball-handling and play dynamics Riley brings to the Illini, and has moved him through lineups and positions – including on and off the ball – to learn more about what he has in him. Fellow freshman guard Kasparas Jakucionis appears to be Illinois’ current point guard… but who knows? “There’s been a lot of days where we haven’t gotten him and KJ together,” Underwood said of Riley at Illinois media day. “We put them against each other and let them compete. And the reality is that they can play together a lot. It’s time to put five on them and look at different combinations and matchups.”

What we expect

Riley’s future as an Illini depends heavily on his outlook. How much does he care about college ball? The NBA is clearly a goal, but is Champaign a way station on that journey or a place to build a foundation? Riley’s defense (like most freshmen) needs a lot of work, as does his thin, 18-year-old frame.

That’s why Riley says he’s gained 15 pounds since arriving on campus, and the fact that Underwood sees him as a possible lead point guard — and not just a player whose scoring tendencies need to be offset on offense — is a great sign. Riley didn’t start in the Ole Miss exhibition, but he knocked down two of four from behind the arc and showed flashes of not just being a spark plug, but a turbocharged inline eight-cylinder. If he can unlock his potential while complementing the other outstanding talent on Illinois’ roster, Riley – and the Illini – have big things in their future indeed.

Illinois Center Tomislav Ivisic is officially eligible for the 2024-2025 season

Five takeaways from Illinois Basketball’s loss to Ole Miss

Illinois freshman Will Riley named to preseason Watch List