Former Illini Will Riley shining in 2026 NBA Summer league

Former Illini forward Will Riley has had an incredible first two games to start the 2026 NBA Summer League. On Sunday evening, Riley dropped 32 points en route to a dominating victory over the Sacramento Kings. The former Illini was extremely efficient, shooting 9 of 14 from the field, including six three-point field goals. Riley previously had a solid 18-point performance in the Summer League opener. The former 21st overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft continues to improve and show that he has an incredibly bright future with how effortlessly he scores the basketball.

Will Riley is just 20 years old and will only continue to get better alongside a talented young Wizards team featuring number one overall pick, AJ Dybantsa.

A strong 2026 year.

Towards the end of his rookie season with the Washington Wizards, Riley saw an uptick in the amount of minutes he played. In March, Will Riley averaged 31.6 minutes per game and 15.3 points per game on 45% from the field. If he can continue his strong Summer League play in the regular season, he should certainly be an integral part of the Wizards’ rotation. The Wizards have a lot of young talent, however, and Riley will have to earn his role. Alongside Dybantsa, the Wizards have talented guards in Tre Johnson, Bub Carrington, Kyshawn George, and NBA All-Star Trae Young.

However, Riley’s size combined with his ability to playmake makes him an incredibly intriguing option off the bench. If his play continues, I fully expect Will Riley to be one of the top sixth men in the NBA.

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