The first round of the 2025 National Basketball Association Draft took place on Wednesday with the Washington Wizards selecting Canadian small forward Will Riley of Kitchener, Ontario 21st overall. The Wizards initially had the 18th pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, but traded the pick to the Utah Jazz according to CBS Sports. The Wizards received the 21st pick (where they selected Riley), a second round pick from the Jazz in 2025 (43rd overall), and second round picks in 2031 and 2032.
Riley played this past season for the University of Illinois Fightning Illini and was the sixth man player of the year in the Big Ten Conference. A forward, the freshman averaged 12.6 points per game, 4.1 rebounds per game, and 2.2 assists per game. Riley had a field goal percentage of .432, three point percentage of .326, and a free throw percentage of .724.
Riley’s best game of the season from a point perspective came in the Fighting Illini’s first game of the season. He had 31 points in a 112-67 win over Eastern Illinois on November 4. It was the most points by a Fighting Illini freshman in their debut.
The Wizards had two first round picks. With the sixth round draft pick, they selected Tre Johnson, a shooting guard from Dallas, Texas. Also a freshman, Johnson was a member of the University of Texas Longhorns this past season.