At Wednesday night’s NBA Draft, the Washington Wizards (through a trade with the Utah Jazz) selected Illinois’ Will Riley with the 21st overall pick – one spot after fellow Illini Kasparas Jakucionis.

Here’s what the Jazz can expect to get out of Riley:

Few players in college basketball – freshman or otherwise – went on heaters the way Riley did last season. The definition of a microwave scorer, Riley has every scoring tool in his kit: pull-ups, step-backs, side-steps, fadeaways, etc. With his 6-foot-8 frame and quick release, Riley can essentially get his shot off at will – an ability that should translate fairly seamlessly to the next level.

A true three-level scorer, Riley has a crafty handle and takes advantage of his long strides to get downhill. Equally effective with either hand around the rim, he can finish in a variety of ways. Riley has excellent touch on bunnies and push shots, and he loves to use the glass – especially on the right side.

Extremely active, Riley is a “right place, right time” kind of a guy – an invaluable and unteachable skill. An instinctual cutter, he can sneak behind defenders (and sometimes right in front of their faces). At the very least, he forces opponents to keep their heads on a swivel. Riley’s activity also pays off on the offensive glass, as he does an excellent job of crashing. 

Developing as a facilitator as the season progressed, Riley – who had tunnel vision at the start of the year – turned himself into a solid secondary playmaker for the Illini. At times, Illinois even ran its offense through Riley, putting him on the ball in pick-and-roll situations – and he flourished. Riley went from teetering on the edge of black hole status to now being firmly in the “willing passer” category.

But Riley is still prone to falling back into his old habits. With such a well-rounded scoring package, he can get comfortable taking questionable shots – whether they’re falling or not. In turn, his percentages suffered, as Riley shot just 43.2 percent from the field and 32.6 percent from deep.

Defensively, Riley gets back-cut too often, but one can rarely question his level of effort. His slim frame (185 pounds) remains a prevalent question mark, but his level of physicality is never up for debate. There are also worries surrounding his athleticism – both laterally and vertically – but it’s worth noting that Riley only recently turned 19 and has a body that appears to be steadily improving.

Come back to Illinois on SI for news, analysis, social media reactions and more coverage of Illinois in the NBA Draft.

A Look at Each Illinois NBA Draft Pick Since the Turn of the Century

Ty Rodgers’ Injury: How It Will Shake Up Illinois’ Projected Rotation

Brad Underwood, Bret Bielema, Shauna Green Feature in Chicago Cubs’ ‘Illini Night’

Washington Commanders offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil is entering his first season with the team, and he has to perform well in order to keep his spot on the roster.

There’s pressure from first-round pick Josh Conerly Jr. and the worry that he could decline as he turns 31 in August.

ESPN insider John Keim dove into the importance of Tunsil having a good season for the Commanders.

READ MORE: What the Raiders’ rise could reveal about the Commanders

“Tunsil has two years left on his contract, and it’s hard to imagine him playing poorly enough to force Washington to cut him after the season. If the Commanders did, they would have no dead money on their cap. But, for a five-time Pro Bowler, he’s prohibitively affordable in 2026, with a cap hit of only $21.5 million — currently 14th among offensive tackles. Washington drafted tackle Josh Conerly Jr. in the first round, and he will play on the right side. At some point in his career, he could shift to left tackle,” Keim wrote.

“Still, the bigger question for Tunsil is what kind of extension would he receive if he plays as they anticipate this season? After all, the Commanders also could have their bookends for a while — providing high-level protection for Daniels.”

Tunsil is being thrust into the limelight in his first season with the Commanders, who are fresh off of an appearance in the NFC Championship Game.

The Commanders are aiming to protect Daniels at all costs, and that involved making a big trade for one of the league’s top offensive tackles.

Tunsil and the Commanders will report to training camp on July 22.

READ MORE: Cowboys star sends rare praise to Commanders QB Jayden Daniels

Stick with CommanderGameday and the Locked On Commanders podcast for more FREE coverage of the Washington Commanders throughout the 2025 offseason.

• Jayden Daniels steps into the spotlight during a big weekend for NFL stars

• Commanders owner buys record-breaking Jayden Daniels rookie card

• Commanders vs. Bears rematch won’t feel the same

• Commanders make important announcement ahead of 2025 season