We know that gems can be found up and down the first round (and even later) in the NBA Draft; just look at the list of Top 3 picks who have underwhelmed versus, say, Nikola Jokic being a mid-second round pick.
So, it was very refreshing to hear Illinois head coach Brad Underwood, who coached Wizards No. 21 pick Will Riley for one year in college, say to Grant & Danny on Thursday that behind former NBA star Michael Beasley, Riley is the next best offensive player he’s ever coached.
But he’s no slouch on the defensive end, either, as Underwood said that he has room to grow, but Riley has some things you can’t teach that can help him get there.
“He's a good defender. I think that’s the area that maybe he has to continue to grow, given a lack of physicality, but he has the ability to be very, very good,” Underwood said. “That length is special, he has a high IQ, and great anticipation. We were one of the top rebounding teams in the country on both ends, and I think he's got a tremendous knack on the offensive glass.
Scorers find ways to score, and he’s very adept on the offensive glass, which is something we emphasize a great deal. I think he can be very, very impactful, and again, that size and length are ideal when you get into switching and having to guard multiple spots on the floor.”
The Wizards were the team that spent the most time looking at Riley, according to the coach, so they did their due diligence, and Underwood believes Riley can be a ‘high-level’ NBA wing.
“He’s a hard guard, and a guy that's going to be able to exploit mismatches. He’s very slippery; everyone thinks that because he's thin, that you can body him and, and do all those things, but that’s not the case,” Underwood said. “He slips and slides off you and can use either hand, and he can get to post-ups and has a nice little fade away over smaller guys. And, when you put a big on him, he’s as creative and as good with the ball as you can find. So, he’s gonna be a tough matchup; that size is legit at 6-9, and he’ll continue to add weight as he matures.”
Listen to Underwood’s entire visit with Grant & Danny above!