Will Riley Bio
William Riley is a Canadian professional basketball player for the Washington Wizards of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Standing 6 feet 10 inches tall, Riley plays as a forward and has drawn attention as one of the most promising young Canadian talents to enter the league in recent years. He played college basketball for the Illinois Fighting Illini, where a strong freshman campaign established him as a top NBA prospect and led to his selection in the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft.
Born in Kitchener, Ontario, Riley rose through Canadian and American basketball ranks before reclassifying to join Illinois a year ahead of schedule. After one season with the Fighting Illini, he declared for the 2025 NBA Draft and was selected 21st overall by the Utah Jazz before being traded to the Washington Wizards, where he began his professional career.
Early Life and Background
William Riley was born on February 10, 2006, in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada. Growing up in a basketball-strong region of southwestern Ontario, he was introduced to the sport at a young age and quickly developed into a highly regarded prospect within Canadian youth circuits. His physical profile, including his 6-foot-10 frame, allowed him to stand out among peers from an early stage.
Riley began his high school journey in Canada, attending Southwest Academy Prep in London, Ontario, where he also had brief stops at Preston High School and Grand River Collegiate Institute. During this period he competed in the Elite Youth Basketball League (EYBL), averaging 21.9 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game, and earned Offensive MVP honors at the EYBL Indy Session while playing for UPlay Canada. He was also named MVP of the 2024 Basketball Without Borders Global Camp during NBA All-Star weekend, a recognition that cemented his status as an elite international prospect.
Path to Basketball
To complete his high school career, Riley transferred to The Phelps School in Malvern, Pennsylvania, where he spent his final two years of pre-college basketball. The move to the United States gave him exposure against stronger competition and helped him build the résumé needed to attract top college recruiters. His performances in both Canadian and American circuits drew the attention of national scouts.
Riley was ranked as the top Canadian prospect and No. 9 overall by 247Sports, No. 10 by On3, and No. 11 by Rivals in the class of 2025. On June 23, 2024, he committed to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and reclassified to the class of 2024 to join the program a year early. At the time of his signing, Riley was the highest-ranked recruit signed by Illinois in the internet era, surpassing former Illinois guard Dee Brown from the class of 2002.
Will Riley Career
Early Career (2024–2025)
Riley joined the Illinois Fighting Illini for the 2024–25 college basketball season and immediately made an impact off the bench. On November 11, 2024, he was named the first Big Ten Freshman of the Week for the season after averaging 22.5 points and seven rebounds across two Illinois wins. During that stretch he also set the Illini freshman scoring record, signaling his readiness for the highest levels of college competition.
He went on to receive the Big Ten Freshman of the Week award two additional times during the season. Following the conclusion of the Big Ten regular season, Riley was named Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year, becoming one of the most decorated freshmen in Illinois history.
NBA Breakthrough (2025)
After his lone college season, Riley declared for the 2025 NBA Draft and received a green room invite in the second wave of invitations on June 16, 2025. In the 2025 NBA Draft, he was selected 21st overall by the Utah Jazz and was subsequently traded to the Washington Wizards. The move to Washington marked his official entry into the NBA.
Riley made his professional debut with the Wizards on October 22, 2025, scoring two points in a 133-120 loss against the Milwaukee Bucks. The appearance represented the first step in his transition from decorated college freshman to NBA rotation player.
Washington Wizards Era (2025–Present)
Riley joined a Wizards organization in the early stages of a roster rebuild, giving him an opportunity to develop playing time at the NBA level. His combination of size, perimeter skill, and Canadian basketball pedigree made him an attractive long-term project for the franchise. The Wizards acquired him as part of a broader effort to add young talent around their developing core.
As a 19-year-old rookie, Riley is expected to balance minutes between the NBA roster and potential development assignments, working to translate his college production into consistent professional performance. His early-season appearances with Washington have offered an initial glimpse of his role within the team’s long-term plans.
Playing Style and Strengths
Riley is known for his scoring versatility as a 6-foot-10 forward, capable of creating his own shot from the perimeter and finishing at the rim. His rebounding and playmaking instincts, demonstrated by his 4.7 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game in EYBL play, point to a well-rounded offensive skill set. He also brings international experience, having starred in high-profile camps such as Basketball Without Borders, which has helped shape his confidence on big stages.
Notable Events and Milestones
Riley’s milestone moments include being named the highest-ranked recruit signed by Illinois in the internet era, earning Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year in his only college season, and being selected 21st overall in the 2025 NBA Draft. His MVP performance at the 2024 Basketball Without Borders Global Camp during NBA All-Star weekend remains one of the signature achievements of his pre-professional career.
Will Riley Career Wins
As a young player whose professional career began in 2025, Will Riley’s career wins to date are primarily defined by his individual accolades and developmental accomplishments rather than championship victories. His collection of Big Ten honors and his first-round draft selection mark him as a prospect whose most significant achievements are still ahead.
College and Youth Highlights
At Illinois, Riley captured Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year and was a three-time Big Ten Freshman of the Week, including the first such award of the 2024–25 season. He also set the program’s freshman scoring record during his standout opening stretch. In youth basketball, he was named Offensive MVP of the EYBL Indy Session while representing UPlay Canada, and he earned MVP honors at the 2024 Basketball Without Borders Global Camp.
Other Performances
Across his time in the EYBL, Riley averaged 21.9 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game, performances that established him as one of Canada’s most highly recruited players in recent memory. His consistent production against elite high school and grassroots competition helped position him for his record-setting commitment to Illinois and eventual first-round draft status.
Will Riley Family
Family Background and Basketball Lineage
Riley grew up in Kitchener, Ontario, within a Canadian basketball community that has produced several professional players in recent years. His development in southwestern Ontario and London-area prep programs placed him alongside many of Canada’s top young prospects, and his ranking as the top Canadian player in his high school class reflected the strength of his family and local support system.
Personal Life
William Riley focuses much of his public profile on basketball, and details about his personal and family life have remained relatively private as he transitioned from high school to college to the NBA. As a 19-year-old rookie, he has prioritized his professional development with the Washington Wizards.
2025 Season Performance
Riley’s 2025 calendar year has been defined by major transitions, beginning with a decorated freshman season at Illinois that earned him Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year honors. He then declared for the 2025 NBA Draft and was selected 21st overall by the Utah Jazz before being traded to the Washington Wizards. His first NBA appearance came on October 22, 2025, against the Milwaukee Bucks.
With the Wizards, Riley is expected to spend the early portion of his rookie season adjusting to the pace and physicality of the NBA while competing for minutes in a developing rotation. The franchise’s rebuilding timeline gives him room to grow into a larger role over time, and his college scoring record and Freshman of the Week accolades suggest he can be a consistent contributor if given the opportunity.
Looking ahead, Riley’s outlook for the remainder of the 2025–26 NBA season centers on refining his skills, building chemistry with his new teammates, and establishing himself as a reliable piece of the Wizards’ long-term core. His trajectory from top Canadian recruit to first-round NBA pick in a single year makes him one of the most closely watched young players in the league.