The big news has dropped, as the Illinois basketball team has landed a five-star recruit for the future.
Over the past couple of weeks, Brad Underwood and the Illini coaching staff have been building momentum in the Will Riley sweepstakes. We weren’t even a thought a month ago.
After Illinois hired Orlando Antigua back to the coaching staff, Riley started to give us a look. He took an official visit on June 3. He then made a trip to Kentucky and Alabama on June 4 and June 6, respectively.
Illinois had taken the lead for Riley according to On3.com’s prediction machine. A Crystal Ball Prediction was then submitted in favor of the Illini to land Riley.
Predictions and speculation can now be set aside. Riley took to social media to announce that he was indeed committing to Illinois.
Riley is a 6-foot-8, 180-pound small forward from The Phelps School in Pennsylvania. He is rated as a five-star recruit and ranked as the No. 15 player in the class of 2025. He is also the No. 3 small forward in the country and the No. 2 player coming out of Pennsylvania.
Illinois basketball is getting a long stretch No. 4 who can cause some mismatches with the commitment of Will Riley
What a huge commitment for the Illini. Riley is the highest-rated recruit Illinois has secured since 247Sports started their composite rankings back in 2003.
It is not hyperbole when I say, I think Riley is a one-and-done at Illinois. I am blown away by his ability on the court, and I think he has all the tools to be elite at every level of the game.
At 6-foot-8, Riley moves incredibly well. He has the athletic ability of a quick 6-foot-2 guard. His defensive prowess stands out to me too. A lot of kids in AAU are all about offense, but Riley is willing to do the work on the defensive end of the court.
Offensively, Riley can produce at all levels of the court. You can’t slack off of him or he will hit a three-pointer. He can take his man off the dribble and get to the rim. Riley has a nice baseline jumper as well.
I think Riley is going to be an insane mismatch at the college level. He has the ability to play the No. 3 or No. 4 spot. He is going to be taller and just as quick as any No. 3, and Riley will be quicker than any No. 4. He is going to be a menace.
When I watch Riley play the game, he reminds me so much of a slightly shorter Michael Porter Jr. The game is very similar, and if that is what Illinois is getting, the Big Ten better watch out. We are going to be really good.