Will Riley, power forward?

CHAMPAIGN Basketball awards geared toward a specific position havent exactly aged well alongside the changing landscape of the sport at large.

Sure, point guards and centers are a little more easily definable.

The other three spots on the court? Good luck trying to put some of college basketballs stars in a box.

The preseason watch list for the Karl Malone Award was released this past Thursday.

The winner is considered the top power forward in the country and has gone to San Diego States Jaedon LeDee, Indianas Trayce Jackson-Davis, Iowas Keegan Murray, Gonzagas Drew Timme and Daytons Obi Toppin the past five seasons.

This years group of preseason honorees does read like the whos who of power forwards.

Guys like Connecticuts Alex Karaban, Houstons JWan Roberts, Alabamas Grant Nelson and Arizonas Trey Townsend were obvious inclusions.

Then theres Auburns Johni Broome.

Plus Baylors Norchad Omier and Gonzagas Graham Ike.

Will they actually play the 5 this season? Yeah, probably.

But at least you can fudge it a little and say theyre power forwards.

Will Rileys inclusion on the Karl Malone Award watch list is a little trickier to figure out.

Illinois coach Brad Underwood hasnt gone as far as first-year Vanderbilt coach Mark Byington and listed all 18 of his players as point guards, but Rileys reality is probably closer to that than being the next great power forward as the highly-touted five-star recruit begins his college career on Monday night when Illinois hosts Eastern Illinois in the season opener at 7 p.m.

at State Farm Center.

I think one of the things Im interested in with Will is weve played him both on and off the ball finding out where hes most comfortable, Underwood said.

Hes a tremendous playmaker, so we want to have some comfort with him on the ball.

Hes also a guy thats very, very effective catching and shooting.

Riley is listed as a forward on the Illinois roster.

Some letter had to go next to the 6-foot-8 freshmans name on the website.

But trying to pigeonhole the former five-star recruit who averaged 26.5 points, six rebounds and 4.1 assists at the Phelps School (Pa.) in the 2023-24 season is an exercise in futility.

Underwood said Riley is simply a guy that just knows how to play.

The Illinois coach even compared Rileys passion for basketball to Michael Beasley, who starred at Kansas State when Underwood was an assistant coach with the Wildcats.

A guy whose ball just goes in all the time, Underwood said about Riley.

He can play with it at (6-8) and get to his spots.

He doesnt need a screen to score, but one of the best things he does is pass.

Hes a great competitor.

Im excited about where his game can take us because hes got a really high ceiling.

Hes a savant.

He loves the game, wants to learn it and he remembers everything.

Im really excited about Will.

Whatever position hes playing, hes going to be effective in it.

The folks at the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, who present the Karl Malone Award, obviously think that position is power forward.

Riley is on record not caring what position he plays this season for Illinois.

Im comfortable doing anything it takes to win on this team, the Kitchener, Ontario, native said.

Whatever that is whatever they need me for Im there.

Because Riley has found in Champaign what he was looking for when he decided to reclassify and start his college basketball career now.

He dominated in his final season of high school hoops in Pennsylvania.

Then again in the spring on the Nike EYBL circuit where he was a top-five scorer without the benefit of a Peach Jam run to boost his stats.

Because he was already on campus at Illinois.

Honestly, just playing with high schoolers, I just needed more and more competitiveness, Riley said.

I needed more.

I came here for that.

...

It was a very long process.

It was a thought-out process, though.

I knew I was ready.

Ready to be tested at the next level? For sure.

Ready physically? Thats what the last four months have been for, with Riley putting on 15 pounds since July working with Illinois strength and conditioning coach Adam Fletcher.

The added strength has given more Riley more comfort and confidence defensively.

The work in the gym with the Illinois coaches has further fine-tuned his game with being able to change pace and playing off two feet emphasized.

Outside expectations are sky high for Riley.

Hes projected by some as a one-and-done player at Illinois, and the Illini coaches arent exactly treating him with kid gloves.

Hes getting pushed by Underwood and Co.

Every player is different in that capacity, Underwood said.

With him, he is like, Just game on, let me play.

What were doing offensively is not overly complicated because its conceptual.

Its just spacing guys and playing them probably more NBA like than college like.

His versatility, he gets in the paint at (6-8), hes very effective, a hard matchup and hes got really good skills with the ball.

Especially with size.

Classic power forward right there..

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