Scouting Report: Will Riley drops 40 points in win at 2023 Jordan Holiday Classic

Will Riley showed why he’s a top talent in the country on Friday, dropping a 40 ball at the 2023 Jordan Holiday Classic. Riley was scoring off the bounce, taking defenders to the cup and shooting over them to bury off-balance mid-range jumpers and pull-up threes. The 6’7” wing showed why he can be a matchup nightmare for whoever’s across from him.

He stretched the floor, hitting pull-up threes at the top of the key over defenders. He can facilitate and handle the rock in the half-court, but was most impressive in transition. He can attack the paint, playing above the rim using his athleticism and speed. Will gets downhill to the cup on the break and is hard to stop once he gets moving. He used advanced gathers and crafty finishes en route to his major scoring total.

I spoke with Will after the game and he explained how this was a big win for the team as they had something to prove after being on a bit of a skid.

 “We had a lot of energy coming into this game, we all fought hard," he said. "They beat us on the glass, but we were able to get out in transition and take advantage of scoring.”

He said his mentality was to run the offense and get teammates involved leading up to the game but his shots were falling and it was just one of those nights for Riley. When running the offense he was able to get to his spots early and often. It was clear he had the hot hand and he definitely took advantage shooting 15/25 from the field. He has excellent footwork and touch, and paired with his height makes it extremely difficult for defenders to contest his shots.

Will is a superstar who can take over the game and his athleticism allows him to get busy in transition or in the half court. A name making a lot of noise so far this year in the class of 2025, keep an eye or two on Will Riley.