Will Riley

[AFM]

nah hold on lemme find out he kinda shnasty wit it tho?

[Dat2U]

I don't understand taking another player very similar to Kyshawn when Asa Newell (ranked 6th in YODA) Drake Powell, Danny Wolf, and others were there, but Will had his boosters in the analyst world and on the board, so I look forward to seeing him in SL.

Riley is a 2/3. George is a 3/4.

I never liked Newell. He is too small to play C and can't shoot well enough to play 4. He got away with that in college but it will be much harder in the pros.

Is he really a 2/3 though

Draft Grade: C+
I'm not his biggest fan. He's not a great athlete or a great shooter yet. He has a very lean frame. "What's he going to be?" was the common question I heard from scouts when talking about Riley's evaluation. He does have dynamic driving ability and playmaking instincts that scream upside as a jumbo-sized, shot-creating wing.

https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/draft/?view=default&filter=round%3A1

The underlined is what Hawkins likes clearly

Same. Its the advanced handle/shot creation at 6-8 that had me like

Those tools separate him from a lot of the guys he's been initially compared to. It's why I preferred him to guys like Newell, Fleming, etc.

[AFM]

Would you call his handle advanced? Seems more herky jerky unorthodox to me, from the limited tape I've watched today. Looks effective though.

[WizarDynasty]

Yeah he lacks alot of stamina in his off hand. He can't keep a speed dribble below his knee. It's above average handle, but it's not reliable not a power below the knee speed dribble.
HIs slow dribble speed actually limits his act movements. He just has to put the work it to get a chris paul handle. I think he has it if he gets the right coach.

Finally will needs to build stamina in his off hand.. tricep muscle. His arms gets fatigue after 20 straight power dribbles below her knee. His main weakness offensively becaue his opponents are forcing his to drive with her weak hand and lack of stamina in his off hand tricep forces his to lose body control instead 3 stop and goes with her off as he drives. She needs to dribble ball 1000 times non stop !below the knee! while he jogs up.and down the court with no breaks..fight the urge to quick when his arm .. tricep gets tired...obly then he unlock can achieve c. Paul beast mode off hand dribble attack 3 stop and goes in row to off balance his defender and look beautiful doing it. Then you can say nba players are better than NBA players.. both skill and charisma because you will be after achieving Beast Mode off hand attack dribble. 1000K below the knee in a row and fight urge to quit is how you unlock. Make sure each bounce is behind the ankle while you walk slowly.

[long suffrin' boulez fan]

How would you all evaluate bow in his legs?

[AFM]

Yeah he lacks alot of stamina in his off hand. He can't keep a speed dribble below his knee. It's above average handle, but it's not reliable not a power below the knee speed dribble.
HIs slow dribble speed actually limits his act movements. He just has to put the work it to get a chris paul handle. I think he has it if he gets the right coach.

This is pretty much what I was trying to say.

[machu46]

Would you call his handle advanced? Seems more herky jerky unorthodox to me, from the limited tape I've watched today. Looks effective though.

Seems to me that he has some creative moves/good change of pace, but the actual control of the ball isn't very good. Seems he often tries to make a move and fumbles the ball a little and has to bail.

Edit: WizarDynasty summed it up perfectly.

Sent from my Pixel 6 using Tapatalk

[WizarDynasty]

How would you all evaluate bow in his legs?

Toenail polish ... now thats an original.

[nate33]

As I mentioned before, I'm very much alarmed at Riley's incredibly low stocks. Tankathon has him averaging just 0.4 blocks and 0.4 steals per 36 minutes. I went through the last 10 years of the first round (starting in 2023) to find guys with less than 1 steal and less than 1 block per 36:

Player Blocks Steals
Jett Howard 0.7 0.5
Jordan Hawkins 0.6 0.9
Jalen Hood-Schifino 0.3 0.9
Ochai Agbaji 0.6 0.9
AJ Griffin 0.8 0.8
Malaki Branham 0.3 0.9
Nikola Jovic 0.6 0.9
Joshua Primo 0.5 0.9
Cam Thomas 0.2 0.9
Saddiq Bey 0.4 0.8
RJ Barrett 0.4 0.9
De'Andre Hunter 0.6 0.6
Romeo Langford 0.9 0.8
Keldon Johnson 0.2 0.9
Marvin Bagley 0.9 0.9
Kevin Knox 0.3 0.9
Miles Bridges 0.9 0.7
Jerome Robinson 0.1 0.9
Kevin Huerter 0.7 0.7
Landry Shamet 0.2 0.8
Lauri Markkanen 0.6 0.5
Luke Kennard 0.4 0.8
Justin Jackson 0.3 0.9
Caleb Swanigan 0.9 0.5
Furkan Korkmaz 0.6 0.4
Devin Booker 0.1 0.8
Trey Lyles 0.7 0.8
Rashad Vaughn 0.4 0.9
Sam Dekker 0.5 0.6
Justin Anderson 0.7 0.8
Nikola Milutinov 0.5 0.7
Julius Randle 0.9 0.6
Nik Stauskas 0.3 0.6
Doug McDermott 0.2 0.2
James Young 0.2 0.8
Rodney Hood 0.3 0.8

I bolded the guys who went on to be legit starters. There's not many. There are a couple of All-Stars though, including Booker and Randle.

The only guy who has a worse total stocks than Riley was McDermott.

[prime1time]

Will followed a very normal season progression at Illinois. You can really break his season down into thirds.

1st 3rd Games 1-8
15/4/2 on 45.5/42.9/67

2nd 3rd of Games
7.5/3.2/1.5 on 31.4/22.9/69.7

Last 3rd of Games 22-34 Games:
16.8/ 4.9/3.2 50.6/35.3/78.3

This kind of trend is very common. Easy opponents to start the season. Then they start playing tougher out of conference games and in conference opponents. Then stud freshman starts to figure out and things turn around. I don't think they are looking at Riley to be a 1 or a 2, but they do want a large number of guys that can shoot, put the ball on the floor, create and guard 1-4. I'm just starting my deep dive into Riley but this seems to be the type of player that they like. And if those last 3rd of games are any indicator this kid has a ton of potential. It speaks volumes that Riley had the ability to adapt to both the higher skill level of college and to how teams were playing him.

[prime1time]

As I mentioned before, I'm very much alarmed at Riley's incredibly low stocks. Tankathon has him averaging just 0.4 blocks and 0.4 steals per 36 minutes. I went through the last 10 years of the first round (starting in 2023) to find guys with less than 1 steal and less than 1 block per 36:

Player Blocks Steals
Jett Howard 0.7 0.5
Jordan Hawkins 0.6 0.9
Jalen Hood-Schifino 0.3 0.9
Ochai Agbaji 0.6 0.9
AJ Griffin 0.8 0.8
Malaki Branham 0.3 0.9
Nikola Jovic 0.6 0.9
Joshua Primo 0.5 0.9
Cam Thomas 0.2 0.9
Saddiq Bey 0.4 0.8
RJ Barrett 0.4 0.9
De'Andre Hunter 0.6 0.6
Romeo Langford 0.9 0.8
Keldon Johnson 0.2 0.9
Marvin Bagley 0.9 0.9
Kevin Knox 0.3 0.9
Miles Bridges 0.9 0.7
Jerome Robinson 0.1 0.9
Kevin Huerter 0.7 0.7
Landry Shamet 0.2 0.8
Lauri Markkanen 0.6 0.5
Luke Kennard 0.4 0.8
Justin Jackson 0.3 0.9
Caleb Swanigan 0.9 0.5
Furkan Korkmaz 0.6 0.4
Devin Booker 0.1 0.8
Trey Lyles 0.7 0.8
Rashad Vaughn 0.4 0.9
Sam Dekker 0.5 0.6
Justin Anderson 0.7 0.8
Nikola Milutinov 0.5 0.7
Julius Randle 0.9 0.6
Nik Stauskas 0.3 0.6
Doug McDermott 0.2 0.2
James Young 0.2 0.8
Rodney Hood 0.3 0.8

I bolded the guys who went on to be legit starters. There's not many. There are a couple of All-Stars though, including Booker and Randle.

The only guy who has a worse total stocks than Riley was McDermott.

I don't think we're drafting him to be a starter. If you look at the roster it really wouldn't make sense.

Johnson and Sarr are long term pieces. We already have Coulibaly who will be given every chance to succeed. So that really only leaves one forward position and a guard position. And we're tanking next year. So more than likely he will be a Jaylin Williams/Andrew Wiggins or he will be used in a trade. If. something shocking happens and it works out that he's better than advertised even better for us.

[dobrojim]

If you want to be excited about Riley, don't watch the
Kentucky NCAA tourney game which I watched last
night UI lost and Riley didn't look good at all. Just one
game though. After the highlight videos it brought me
down to earth. Presumably it was motivational for Will.

[doclinkin]

If you want to be excited about Riley, don't watch the
Kentucky NCAA tourney game which I watched last
night UI lost and Riley didn't look good at all. Just one
game though. After the highlight videos it brought me
down to earth. Presumably it was motivational for Will.

On the flip side watch the Xavier game. Buzzer beaters. Long 3’s. Drives to the paint. Highlight reel the whole game.

[prime1time]

Riley seems to be their ideal template for a wing. Can shoot, playmake, attack the hoop and is a solid defender. I think Riley serves as a good counter point to Tre Johnson. Many of Riley's buckets are designed by the offense. Illinois utilized the fact that their center can shoot to remove rim protection and then they also used the big in the high post. In addition, watching Riley play you see that teams weren't really willing to help off of his teammates to slow him down. The end result being that Riley gets chances to go one-on-one.

Riley at his best will happen when there is another player on the floor to take the attention of the defense. As another guy on the floor he might be able to exploit mismatches or when defenses help off, but it's hard to see him evolving into a guy that can just create. He did have some experience running the pick and roll at Illinois so he might get some opportunities to do that also.

I think our front office just likes guys like this. We got one last year in Kyshawn George. We traded for another one in Dillion Jones. And now we drafted Will Riley. The idea being that roles on the offense are flexible so you don't want players that are one dimensional (3 and D for example). Riley is skilled enough to initiate the offense, bring the ball up the floor and exploit advantages. if an opposing team has a subpar defender guarding Riley I think he'll be able to have success.Another aspect of Riley's game is that he's use to playing with a big that can pass. This is one of Sarr's strenghts and it will be fun to see them run some two-man games where Riley is cutting backdoor and Sarr hits him with a good pass.

Riley projects as a future role player who matches the style of player that the Wizards want to run. But without an offensive centerpiece that can compromise the defense it's tough to imagine him consistent having offensive success. If he can improve his overall offensive game he could become a very valuable piece.

[tontoz]

Riley seems to be their ideal template for a wing. Can shoot, playmake, attack the hoop and is a solid defender.

Riley isn't a solid defender. This past season he was really bad. I suspect they are hoping he will get better once he fills out but he was drafted for his offense.

[prime1time]

Riley seems to be their ideal template for a wing. Can shoot, playmake, attack the hoop and is a solid defender.

Riley isn't a solid defender. This past season he was really bad. I suspect they are hoping he will get better once he fills out but he was drafted for his offense.

Solid defender => has the potential to be a solid defender. He's not Davis Bertans.

[tontoz]

Riley seems to be their ideal template for a wing. Can shoot, playmake, attack the hoop and is a solid defender.

Riley isn't a solid defender. This past season he was really bad. I suspect they are hoping he will get better once he fills out but he was drafted for his offense.

Solid defender => has the potential to be a solid defender. He's not Davis Bertans.

Saying someone is a solid defender is a lot different than saying they have the potential to be one. I am not sure he really has that potential either unless he fills out substantially and puts out a lot more effort. He wasnt even a speed bump most of the time in college.

He looked pretty bad on D in the games i watched. Hoop Intellect called him "a complete zero" on that end which is pretty harsh from that guy.

[closg00]

Riley seems to be their ideal template for a wing. Can shoot, playmake, attack the hoop and is a solid defender. I think Riley serves as a good counter point to Tre Johnson. Many of Riley's buckets are designed by the offense. Illinois utilized the fact that their center can shoot to remove rim protection and then they also used the big in the high post. In addition, watching Riley play you see that teams weren't really willing to help off of his teammates to slow him down. The end result being that Riley gets chances to go one-on-one.

Riley at his best will happen when there is another player on the floor to take the attention of the defense. As another guy on the floor he might be able to exploit mismatches or when defenses help off, but it's hard to see him evolving into a guy that can just create. He did have some experience running the pick and roll at Illinois so he might get some opportunities to do that also.

I think our front office just likes guys like this. We got one last year in Kyshawn George. We traded for another one in Dillion Jones. And now we drafted Will Riley. The idea being that roles on the offense are flexible so you don't want players that are one dimensional (3 and D for example). Riley is skilled enough to initiate the offense, bring the ball up the floor and exploit advantages. if an opposing team has a subpar defender guarding Riley I think he'll be able to have success.Another aspect of Riley's game is that he's use to playing with a big that can pass. This is one of Sarr's strenghts and it will be fun to see them run some two-man games where Riley is cutting backdoor and Sarr hits him with a good pass.

Riley projects as a future role player who matches the style of player that the Wizards want to run. But without an offensive centerpiece that can compromise the defense it's tough to imagine him consistent having offensive success. If he can improve his overall offensive game he could become a very valuable piece.

Here-here. I am hoping that AJ wins-over the starting PG position, he penetrated and probed defenses in the paint, and he was willing to take it to the RIM, something that Bub does not do, it’s in his scouting report. Bub can still continue his development as a
combo guard.
https://www.nbadraft.net/players/carlton-carrington/

[prime1time]

Riley isn't a solid defender. This past season he was really bad. I suspect they are hoping he will get better once he fills out but he was drafted for his offense.

Solid defender => has the potential to be a solid defender. He's not Davis Bertans.

Saying someone is a solid defender is a lot different than saying they have the potential to be one. I am not sure he really has that potential either unless he fills out substantially and puts out a lot more effort. He wasnt even a speed bump most of the time in college.

He looked pretty bad on D in the games i watched. Hoop Intellect called him "a complete zero" on that end which is pretty harsh from that guy.

I stated my opinion. If you don't like it, that's not my problem.

[prime1time]

Riley seems to be their ideal template for a wing. Can shoot, playmake, attack the hoop and is a solid defender. I think Riley serves as a good counter point to Tre Johnson. Many of Riley's buckets are designed by the offense. Illinois utilized the fact that their center can shoot to remove rim protection and then they also used the big in the high post. In addition, watching Riley play you see that teams weren't really willing to help off of his teammates to slow him down. The end result being that Riley gets chances to go one-on-one.

Riley at his best will happen when there is another player on the floor to take the attention of the defense. As another guy on the floor he might be able to exploit mismatches or when defenses help off, but it's hard to see him evolving into a guy that can just create. He did have some experience running the pick and roll at Illinois so he might get some opportunities to do that also.

I think our front office just likes guys like this. We got one last year in Kyshawn George. We traded for another one in Dillion Jones. And now we drafted Will Riley. The idea being that roles on the offense are flexible so you don't want players that are one dimensional (3 and D for example). Riley is skilled enough to initiate the offense, bring the ball up the floor and exploit advantages. if an opposing team has a subpar defender guarding Riley I think he'll be able to have success.Another aspect of Riley's game is that he's use to playing with a big that can pass. This is one of Sarr's strenghts and it will be fun to see them run some two-man games where Riley is cutting backdoor and Sarr hits him with a good pass.

Riley projects as a future role player who matches the style of player that the Wizards want to run. But without an offensive centerpiece that can compromise the defense it's tough to imagine him consistent having offensive success. If he can improve his overall offensive game he could become a very valuable piece.

One aspect that I failed to mention is the late growth spurt. I was watching the press conference and apparently he grew a ton during covid. I also may have been a bit harsh on the offensive side. I didn't realize that he's probably 6'9 3/4 in shoes. At that kind of height, it doesn't take much to become an effective player. In that context it would be much more about him getting to his spots and rising up over the defender. He only recently turned 19 so there's a chance that he's still growing. If he can continue to improve his skills and figure out a way to exploit his height maybe we could have found something. He only turned 19 in February.