Will Riley Selected 21st Overall by the Utah Jazz
- At the 2025 NBA Draft held in Brooklyn, NY, the Utah Jazz selected Canadian wing Will Riley, who stands 6-foot-8, with the 21st overall pick in the first round.
- During his single season at Illinois, Riley was honored as the Big Ten's top sixth man and contributed an average of 12.6 points across 35 games as an important bench player.
- After the Jazz drafted Riley, they traded him to the Washington Wizards in exchange for Walter Clayton Jr., the 18th overall pick in the same draft.
- Riley shot 43.2 percent from the field and 32.6 percent from three-point range at Illinois, and measured just over 6-foot-8 and 185.6 pounds at the draft combine.
- The trade indicates both teams’ strategies to balance youth and potential, with Riley joining the Wizards known for targeting versatile, developing players.
35 Articles
35 Articles

Will Riley first Canadian selected in NBA Draft, traded from Jazz to Wizards
NEW YORK - Will Riley was the first Canadian selected in this year's NBA Draft.
Will Riley: Hoops Could Replace Hockey as Canada's Top Sport
When you think of Canada, you often think hockey next. And conversely, when you first hear the word hockey, you might think of Canada next, when it comes to word association. Things could be changing though, at least according to Kitchener, Ontario native Will Riley. The #1 ranked basketball recruit from Canada, Riley has really developed as the season has gone along. Basketball is slowly moving towards replacing hockey as the #Canada national …
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