Will Riley's dreams of making the NBA will now likely come true on the big stage in the Big Apple.
The Kitchener, Ont. native has reportedly received a green room invite for the upcoming draft on June 25-26 in New York, per ESPN's Jonathan Givony.
Riley, 19, declared for the 2025 NBA Draft after one season in the NCAA with Illinois. The Canadian wing averaged 12.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game through 35 appearances en route to Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year honours.
His most impressive collegiate outing came in his debut when Riley finished with 31 points — a Fighting Illini record — on 10-of-13 shooting (5-of-6 from distance) and seven rebounds in 25 minutes.
Riley went on to reach double-figure scoring in 13 of his last 15 games, including 22 points on 8-of-12 shooting in a win against Xavier during the first round of March Madness.
The six-foot-eight swingman is currently projected by ESPN as the No. 17 prospect in the 2025 class and is expected to be a first-round selection.
Riley's invite also marks the first time in program history that two players from Illinois have received a green room invite, as he'll be joined by guard Kasparas Jakucionis, ESPN's No. 10-ranked prospect.
"I learned a lot through the season," Riley told ESPN when he declared for the NBA Draft in April. "I faced a lot of adversity, which helped me. When I was younger, I had no idea what it was like on the American basketball scene. That transition from Canada was good for me. The biggest difference was the physicality. I put on 22 pounds before the start of the season. NBA teams saw my potential as a ball-handler and creator, my IQ, and my ability to make reads. These are things you can't teach. I got adjusted midway through the season and started to blossom.
Riley has an opportunity to be the 38th Canadian chosen since the draft went to two rounds in 1989. And he's already looking to model his NBA game after a fellow countryman.
"I like studying Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ... players with similar body frames as mine. I watch how they get to their spots and create open looks. Those are guys you can't stop. I aspire to be like them but also to be like myself. I have a unique game."
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