Will Riley keeps stacking up reasons to believe he’s more than just a former Illinois standout. On Sunday, the 20-year-old forward delivered a huge Summer League showing for the Washington Wizards, pouring in 32 points and grabbing six rebounds in a 104-85 win over the Sacramento Kings.
Riley did it efficiently, too, shooting 64% from the field in the lopsided victory. The Wizards were in control throughout, and Riley was right in the middle of the action as Washington handled Sacramento with ease.
The performance is the latest step in a rapid rise for the Kitchener, Ontario, Canada, native, who was once a five-star recruit and Illinois’ top prospect in the class of 2024. Before declaring for the 2025 NBA draft, Riley was expected to be a major part of Brad Underwood’s roster. Instead, he’s now making his case as a key piece of Washington’s future.
That future could get even brighter with No. 1 overall pick AJ Dybantsa set to join him for the 2026-27 season. The Wizards have spent much of the last nine seasons chasing a .500 record and have hit it only once in that span, leaving the franchise in need of a reset.
Riley and Dybantsa are being framed as the kind of young duo that can help provide it. Both are big, talented forwards, but they bring different strengths. Riley has shown he can score at all three levels, while Dybantsa brings the kind of physical presence that can take over inside.
For Washington, the hope is simple: keep these two together and let the talent grow. Dybantsa still has room to develop, especially as a perimeter shooter, but Riley is the one already turning heads and looking like the face of what comes next in Washington.
In Other News...
Illinois Fans Still Feel The Sting Of These Recruiting Letdowns
Illinois has had its share of recruiting wins over the years, but the programs history also includes a handful of highly touted names who never quite delivered on the promise that followed them to Champaign. Marquez Beason arrived as a four-star talent, Gabe Megginson came in with plenty of buzz on the offensive line, and Aaron Bailey was supposed to give the offense a future at quarterback. Instead, each became part of the long list of what-ifs that still linger when fans look back on earlier eras.
Martez Wilson stands out in a different way, because his Illinois career was productive enough to matter without ever fully matching the lofty expectations attached to a five-star label. He developed into a solid Big Ten player and moved on to the NFL, but even that success only underscores how hard it is for a program to turn elite recruiting rankings into the kind of consistent star power that changes everything. For Illinois, these names remain a reminder that signing day hype is only the first step. [Read more 🡒]
Brad Underwood's Recruiting Shift Changes A Big Illinois Question
Brad Underwood has spent enough time in the transfer era to know how quickly a roster can change, and Illinois is adjusting accordingly. After leaning heavily into the portal in recent years, the Illini have shifted back toward high school recruiting, a move driven by the reality that keeping players in the program has been a challenge and that some of the top talent that came through Champaign either moved on early or ended up elsewhere.
The change is already showing up in the class count. Illinois signed six prep prospects in the Class of 2026, its biggest high school haul since 2018, and the staff has not stopped there. The Illini already hold commitments from in-state four-stars Quinton Kitt and Mason Martin for 2027, and they are still chasing more help as Underwood tries to build a deeper pipeline the old-fashioned way. [Read more 🡒]