Before guard Jaxson Robinson pulled out of the NBA draft and committed to Kentucky basketball, there was a lot of talk about Will Riley reclassifying to 2024 and becoming a Wildcat. Instead, Robinson is in Lexington, and Riley has committed to Illinois.
Riley is a 6’8″, 180 small forward from Pennsylvania. He is a five star player and ranked in the top ten overall for 247sports. He’s their number two small forward, and top ranked player in the state.
Related: Mark Pope contacts 2026 guard Jayden Johnson
There’s still a good chance Riley reclassifies to 2024, which likely played a large role in his not picking the Wildcats. With the number of veteran players Pope has added through transfers, the minutes may not be there early on. At Illinois, he has a better chance of playing this season.
Kentucky, meanwhile, is likely set for the most part for 2024-25. They have an open scholarship, but it’s likely to be filled by more of a role player. Instead, Pope and his staff are hard at work on the 2025 class.
Good luck to Will Riley in his college career and beyond.