Illinois wing Will Riley might nonetheless be in highschool. The freshman reclassified within the spring to go to school this fall.
Riley additionally may very well be within the beginning lineup for No. 25 Illinois. The 6-foot-8 Canadian has discovered a technique to lead the Preventing Illini (4-1) in scoring regardless of coming off the bench in all video games so far.
Getting into Monday’s non-conference dwelling sport towards Little Rock (3-3) in Champaign, Riley paces Illinois in scoring (18 factors per sport) and 3-point capturing (14 of twenty-two). He’s including six rebounds per sport.
Riley is athletic and lengthy sufficient to crash the offensive glass successfully and expert sufficient to get his personal shot each time the ball is in his arms. He even took a spin at level guard late in Illinois’ 87-40 win over Maryland Jap Shore on Saturday.
“Will simply hoops,” Illinois coach Brad Underwood mentioned. “Will simply merely … I’ll use a man’s identify, Michael Beasley, that I used to be round at Kansas State. Nothing fazes them. Nothing fazes Will.”
Beasley, in fact, was a one-and-done at Kansas State. After he averaged 26.2 factors and 12.4 rebounds for the Wildcats, he went No. 2 within the 2008 NBA Draft. Riley does not appear prone to go that prime within the draft, however perhaps that is underestimating his potential to adapt and enhance.
For instance, when Illinois performed at No. 8 Alabama on Wednesday, Riley missed his first 4 discipline targets and first two free throws within the opening 12 minutes. He seemed slightly rushed and tried some atypical photographs making an attempt to unravel Alabama’s tall and athletic frontcourt.
Then, with 6:23 left within the first half, Riley confirmed he is a quick learner. He acquired the ball on the high of the arc, faked a shot to get his defender to fly previous, then took one small step to the left and cashed in a 3-pointer. He completed with a team-high 18 factors, a career-high 9 rebounds and 4 assists with no turnovers in a 100-87 loss to the Crimson Tide.
“He simply performs the sport. The factor I used to be most upset with him at Alabama was he took contested twos with about 20 seconds on the shot clock,” Underwood mentioned.
And he sees nice potential in his freshman.
“When he learns to proceed to get fouled, phew. These are what lottery picks appear like,” Underwood mentioned of Riley. “He is acquired a present to not be apprehensive about what I say, not be apprehensive a couple of missed shot (or) a foul half. He simply performs within the second and takes what the sport provides him.”
Riley and the Illini determine to face their second-toughest check of the season to date in Little Rock, which collected 20 of the 22 first-place votes within the Ohio Valley Convention’s preseason ballot, with groups unable to vote for themselves.
On Friday night time, Little Rock fought again from a 22-point first-half deficit at No. 20 Arkansas to get as shut as seven factors earlier than winding up with a 79-67 loss.
“I feel if we hadn’t dug such a giant gap for ourselves within the first half, it will have been so much simpler for us to remain within the sport,” ahead Mwani Wilkinson mentioned.
Whereas the Trojans have excessive expectations, they are not at 100%. OVC preseason participant of the 12 months KK Robinson might miss the entire season attributable to a knee harm suffered in late October, whereas backup energy ahead Creed Williamson — the son of Corliss Williamson, a two-time All-American at Arkansas and a former 12-year NBA participant — has missed the previous two video games with a foot harm.
Of their absence, Creighton switch Johnathan Lawson (16.3 factors, 7.2 rebounds, 4 assists) and Wilkinson (17.2 factors), an LSU grad switch, give the Trojans a pair of productive wings with high-major dimension and expertise. They’re additionally prolific 3-point shooters who every hit at a 41 % clip or larger.
“We will see a staff that mixes up defenses,” Underwood mentioned. “This can be a excellent Little Rock staff. Let’s not overlook they may have been an NCAA Match staff final 12 months. They’re very lengthy, very athletic.”
–Discipline Stage Media
