Will Riley is a forward the Washington Wizards selected 21st overall in the 2025 NBA draft out of Illinois. A rookie building his NBA foundation in 2025-26 — full profile with projected role and outlook.
Model lines Riley at 6.8 pts (range 4.1–9.5) vs a 7 line — roughly a coin flip to clear it (48%).
Model favors Utah Jazz (62%), projected 112–114, ~226 total at 96.5 pace.
Will Riley arrived in the NBA as the 21st pick of the 2025 draft, joining the Washington Wizards out of Illinois.
Year one is about carving a role: the ratings and stat line here are Balladex projections for a first-year forward still finding his footing.
Will Riley is a 2025 first-round rookie forward for the Washington Wizards.
Drafted 21st overall out of Illinois, Riley enters the league in the 2025-26 season.
As a rookie without an established NBA track record, the stats and role ratings on this page are clearly-labeled Balladex projections and will update as real box-score data lands.
Sources: 2025 NBA Draft (NBA.com, Basketball-Reference); projections by Balladex.
Riley joins the Washington Wizards as part of the 2025 rookie class.
A 2025 first-round rookie forward out of Illinois.
The rookie projection
Riley projects as a two-way wing prospect. The role ratings weight his draft billing and position; treat them as a starting estimate, not a verdict.
Per game
| Season | GP | MIN | PTS | REB | AST | FG% | 3P% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 58 | 14.9 | 6.8 | 4.2 | 1.7 | .446 | .291 |
Source: Basketball-Reference.
Advanced metrics
Where he sits in history
Hardware
A first-year forward finding his NBA footing.
Will Riley's year-one outlook is about minutes and role. This profile carries Balladex projections until a full rookie season of data is in.
Contract
Promising 21st-overall rookie; check back as real stats accrue.
Will Riley was selected 21st overall by the Washington Wizards in the 2025 NBA draft, out of Illinois.
The identity and draft facts are real; the 2025-26 stat line and role ratings are Balladex projections, clearly labeled, since he is a first-year player.