Casual basketball fans might see the stats and say that Will Riley is no Cooper Flagg or Kon Knueppel — but there’s more to the comparisons. Numbers alone don’t tell the whole story of the relentless pursuit and the countless hours in the gym that Will Riley has spent on his craft.
Riley’s development through KW Vipers, his own backyard, UPLAY Canada, Phelps High School in Pennsylvania, the University of Illinois, and finally his first season in the league has shown his potential for what he could become in the NBA.
Many of the NBA’s best, like Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and many others, have become great because of their ability to outwork everyone else. They are the first ones in the gym and the last ones to leave.
In an interview with The Lead, Will’s mother, Tracy Riley, pointed to the discipline and constant obsession with improvement as the most valuable factors in his rise.
“[At Illinois], he kind of struggled with his shot in December and January,” Tracy said. “There was a time I was a little worried about him, because he was training too much at the gym. Too many hours. They threatened to take his gym pass because he was in there at 2 am. Shot after shot. I remember he’d have a bad game and go immediately to the gym until like 3 am.”
For Will Riley, It’s Basketball or Nothing
Will Riley was born in Kitchener, Ontario, but was mainly raised in Cambridge, Ontario, alongside his three older sisters. Located 45 minutes west of Toronto, Cambridge is one of the three cities that make up the Kitchener-Waterloo tri-city area. A big Celtics and Raptors fan, Will loved ball. And, ever since he was six years old, Will’s relentless approach has been evident. An NBA career wasn’t just a dream; it was the only profession he wanted to pursue.
“Will never have a backup plan,” Tracy laughed. “I remember when he was in grade school and going to parent-teacher conferences and seeing all the projects they do. They would ask the kids what career they’d want to do, and he would put ‘NBA player’ on every single thing. His teachers were like, ‘You know it’s super hard to make the NBA, especially as a Canadian.’ I told them, You can’t tell him anything, and Will was just so driven, much to my dismay.”
Still, Tracy supported him completely. She was in his corner at all times, ensuring that he was getting the nutrition he needed to thrive in basketball and at school; fruit smoothies, yogurt, and chicken nuggets were paramount towards Will’s physical activity.
“He loved smoothies, every morning before school,” she said excitedly. “Strawberry, banana, vanilla yogurt with a shot of vanilla flavoring, or I’d bring a blender from home to use at the hotels. I remember making his whole team smoothies a few times from my hotel room.”
“He would kind of graze all day. It was hard for him to sit still to enjoy a meal. He was always on the move.”
Understanding the Game
The support at home provided the structure for Will’s growth off the court, but his growth on the court was guided not only by his skill set but also by a coach who showed him how to understand and play the game the right way.
“If you’re going to play basketball, that’s the place to be,” Tracy boasted. “He was a part of a program called KW Vipers when he was younger. He had an amazing fundamentals coach. His name was Alex Urosevic. He also played on the Canadian national team. So, he gave Will a good fundamental background. You didn’t want anyone else coaching [Will]. He was just that fantastic.”
Urosevic was Will’s youth basketball coach until Will turned 13. By that time, they had won Ontario championships and Canadian Youth League championships and were very tough to beat. Mom’s support fueled the dominant run, the amazing Alex Urosevic, and the admiration for an NBA champion.
“I’d say the one player he emulated the most was Manu Ginobili,” Tracy said. “Anytime I’d see him on his tablet or laptop, he was watching [Ginobili]. It was basketball replays, and Will would just study his game. You can see the similarities in the way they play the game. The European style and the clutch part of their game.”
World Shutdown? No Problem
That same creativity, work ethic, and versatility that Will admired in Ginobili translated to moments where no one was even watching. Around eighth grade, amid COVID, Will was not playing organized basketball due to the lengthy shutdown Canada experienced. But nothing would stop him from being active, eating well, and doing the necessary things to stay focused on his dream.
“He was sleeping a lot during Covid,” Tracy emphasized. “We built a half-court in our backyard, so he could continue his skill work. He rode his bike every day. He would leave at 8 am, and sometimes not come back until 8 pm. He actually got to train with one of the local university men’s programs. They let Will come and practice with them. So, he was getting the training and keeping up with his skills.”
During that year-and-a-half hiatus, Will grew from 5-foot-9 to an astounding 6-foot-6. Fortunately, he never lost his guard skills or the fundamentals of the game. His play style would expand with the growth spurt. Once basketball opened back up, he was too good to play on the freshman team, but still too young to play with the seniors.
“I think that was a very challenging year for him, but I was super proud of him. A regular kid might have gotten angry or let the emotions get the best of them, but he just kept working. Everyone knew he was the best, but he was in tenth grade.”
UPLAY Canada and Moving to the U.S.
One of the best qualities a basketball player can have is being a team player. Will wasn’t getting the minutes he probably deserved at his high school, but he kept his head down and continued to work.
Will was gaining valuable experience with UPLAY Canada, an AAU program that competes in the EYBL circuit and is known for producing talent including Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Shaedon Sharpe, and the Nembhard brothers.
“He started training with them at age 13, after he outgrew the [KW Vipers],” Tracy said. “UPLAY Canada was training in Toronto at the time, which was about an hour from where we lived. Dwayne Washington runs this program and is Will’s current manager. We stayed loyal to the program. Dwayne has been an instrumental part of Will’s success. Scouts were coming to see him play.”
After navigating three different high schools in Canada, Will would take his talents to Malvern, Pennsylvania to play for Phelps, High School. Again, he would experience time on the bench, since seniority received the most playing time. During the summer, he would go back and play for UPLAY Canada, soaking up as much experience as he could while college offers came flooding in.
“The ball was always in his hands, and he was the focal point on offense. He lit it up in the AAU circuit. They gave him all the freedom. So I think when he went back to the states for his second year at Phelps, that was when he really lit it up.”
Stellar Senior Season
Indeed, he did light it up. During his senior season at Phelps High School, Will averaged 26.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game. Immediately following that stellar senior season at Phelps, he would star in the Nike EYBL circuit in the spring of 2024.
Will would go on to win MVP of the 2024 Nike EYBL Indianapolis circuit, highlighted by a 42-point outburst against Team Durant. He would also go on to win MVP of the Basketball Without Borders Global Camp during the 2024 NBA All-Star weekend. That day, he put the world on notice; he was ready for the next level.
Illinois Comes Calling
Being the ninth-ranked prospect in the class of 2025, Will Riley would use this momentum to reclassify to 2024 and enroll early at Illinois. They had a great blueprint laid out for Will, and it guaranteed more playing time than his other offers.
“After John Calipari’s departure from Kentucky, assistant coach Orlando Antigua went to Illinois, and he messaged us and said, ‘You know if I can just get you to come visit the campus and show you how great it is, can I get you guys to come out here?’ It felt a bit homey, we loved the vibe of the campus,” Tracy explained. “The people had the same kind of personalities and temperaments that we experience in Canada. We were blown away by the visit.”
He finished his lone season at Illinois as the Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year, averaging 12.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 2.2 assists. In the March Madness tournament, he would set the Illinois freshman record for the most points scored in a tournament game with 22 points against Xavier.
“I think he thought he was going to be a starter,” Tracy said. “ But, he was just happy he was able to train hard and get some time in the weight room to get bigger and stronger. He played off the ball a lot, which added another dimension to his game. Near the end of the season, he got to start a few games to show his playmaking. The kid only had to go to college for one year and made the league.”
Will Riley Realizes His NBA Dream
“With the 21st pick in the 2025 NBA draft, the Utah Jazz Select Will Riley, guard, Illinois.”
Tracy still sometimes can’t believe that her son was drafted into the NBA. As Will sat in the green room, she was just as nervous as he was, but all it took was a moment of calmness to let go of that feeling of uncertainty.
“As the picks kept on coming, I’m thinking, he’s going to be one of those kids that doesn’t get drafted. I don’t like this. So, I just looked at Will, and he grabbed my hand and said, ‘It’s okay, Mom, you’ll see.’ He was the next player picked,” she said excitedly. “It was so nerve-wracking, but then you take a deep breath, and you’re like, ‘My son is in the NBA.’”
In the first 50 games of his rookie season, Will averaged just over 7.0 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in 17.5 minutes per game. Over the final 23 games of the 2025-26 season, those stats all increased dramatically. The surge in production could be attributed to the fact that he was too good not to have in the rotation. In three games played with the Washington Wizards’ G-League affiliate Capital City Go-Go, Will averaged a superb 28.0 points per game on 58.2% shooting; there was no way he would ride the Wizards’ bench.
“The [Wizards] just let him play,” Tracy confidently said. “They put the ball in his hands a bit more, and he got to show his stuff. He proved himself in practice, and he lit it up in the G-League. That’s one thing I know about G.M. Will Dawkins; the guys have to earn their minutes. It was awesome to see that transformation mid-season.”
A Seamless Transition
The opportunity came knocking. Will Riley started 15 of the final 23 games and absolutely took over. He averaged 16.1 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.0 steals in just over 32.0 minutes per contest during that stretch. Once Will got the chance, it was a night-and-day difference. Out of those 23 games, the most impressive performance came on April 4.
Will scored 31 points, on 12-of-17 shooting, grabbed five rebounds, and stole the ball five times in a 152-136 loss to the Miami Heat. He became the youngest player since LeBron to score 30 points and record five steals in a game in NBA history.
“[LeBron] was in the league before Will was born,” said Tracy. “For him to be in the same stat line, it still brings tears to my eyes. I have goosebumps right now.”
New Look Wizards and Summer League
Widely considered the steal of the 2025 NBA draft, breaking LeBron’s record helped Will capitalize on a positive rookie season. Circling back to the greats of this game, he knows that there’s always room for improvement as he prepares for next season. He also understands that the Wizards will look completely different next season with the acquisitions of Trae Young and Anthony Davis.
“He wants to get bigger and stronger. He also wants to work on his defensive game,” Tracy said with conviction. “He is a team player. He really looks up to Trae Young. Will is such a team player and is always looking for ways to learn the game. He’s an unselfish player, and as long as he’s getting minutes on the court, he’s fine. He’s in it to win it.”
One way he can improve this offseason is by participating in the NBA Las Vegas Summer League. Players such as Josh Hart, Trey Murphy III, and Ron Holland have all made a significant impact in the Summer League, right before breaking out in their respective roles during their sophomore seasons. The 6-foot-9 Wizards guard will be able to lead the offense, maintain physical development, and navigate the slower-paced game that Summer League offers.
“He is definitely preparing for the Summer League,” Tracy said. “I’m going to be heading to [Las Vegas] to watch him in July. He wants to really show his game in that. The number one pick (AJ Dybantsa) will be there as well, so it should be an exciting tournament.”
Will Riley Will Dominate the 2026 NBA Summer League
Will Riley will be a standout of the Las Vegas Summer League. Why? He takes every opportunity and doesn’t shy away from it. He won’t be sitting out games; he wants to show the world what he can do. Riley has held this attitude of relentlessness and determination since he was six years old. He dreamt of making the NBA, tuning out the noise, and he did it.
Will Riley was sitting on the bench during his sophomore year of high school, working. He came off the bench in college and, without hesitation, nabbed Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year. Finally, when his basketball career mattered most, when it became his livelihood, he quickly proved that he belonged in the big leagues.
“What Do You Want to Eat?”
Now that Will Riley is in the league and doing his thing, Tracy makes it clear that she maintains a strong relationship with her son, and to do that, she has said one thing since Will started playing organized basketball.
“I don’t talk basketball with Will,” she said. “Parents always ask me, ‘How did you get your kid to this level?’ I say I didn’t; he did all the work. I got him to the places and paid for a lot of stuff. But something I would say after every game or practice was, ‘What do you want to eat?’ I never wanted to put pressure on him or [criticize] him.”
She added, “Even now, now that he’s all settled into the NBA, I was so happy to just be MOM. All the recruiting was done and whatnot. Now it’s, ‘Mom, I have so much laundry, can you help me?’ That’s my role now. That’s where I want to be, cheering him on.”
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