Illini in Italy
- Illini HQ, Florida Panhandle
Loyalty . . .
NBA Draft
- Status
Was reading what some of the draft scouts are saying about some of the top prospects.
Biggest question they have with KJ is whether his athleticism will limit him as a starting point guard. They question whether he can create advantages physically as he's not the fastest or strongest. Right now most of his plays in the paint are coming off of ball screens.
With Riley, it's something that I'm sure many of us have mentioned on here and that's his lack of strength. They don't doubt that he can be a quality NBA shooter, especially off the bounce (even if his efficiency leaves a lot to be desired). And he can certainly play. But his strength is going to be a huge worry for NBA teams.
Biggest question they have with KJ is whether his athleticism will limit him as a starting point guard. They question whether he can create advantages physically as he's not the fastest or strongest. Right now most of his plays in the paint are coming off of ball screens.
With Riley, it's something that I'm sure many of us have mentioned on here and that's his lack of strength. They don't doubt that he can be a quality NBA shooter, especially off the bounce (even if his efficiency leaves a lot to be desired). And he can certainly play. But his strength is going to be a huge worry for NBA teams.
My simple thinking is strength can be gained, but athleticism is innate. Both have the potential that qualifies them to at least go in the first round, at least too much for all 30 teams to pass up.
I am not high on Kaspar J as far as the NBA is concerned. Doesn't seem quick enough. Reminds me of Steve Alford back in the day. Alford wasn't quick enough to play in NBA while his similar contemporary Steve Kerr played like 12 years in the NBA. Steve was quick enough to play.
While I agree that strength can be gained, Riley needs to put on quite a bit of muscle if he wants to succeed at the next level.
I get Luka Doncic vibes from KJ. He's nowhere near as good of a scorer as Doncic but you can see a lot of similarities in their style of play. They both have frustrating turnovers but also can make plays that can singlehandedly turn the game in their team's favor.
OrangeBlue98
Iowa is not in a great spot right now (LvilleILL1)
- Des Moines, IA
I would imagine that NBA teams will look at Riley and feel like they can continue to add muscle to him. As much as we rightly laud Adam Fletcher's work with the team, I have to think a NBA sports performance program plus full-time focus on basketball as opposed to "most of the time" will bring even greater results.
KJ might face a tougher climb, but I still would think he'd improve his athleticism over time. He's still young. While he may never have off-the-charts athleticism, it's still something that can be improved to where it's "awfully good".
Based on what I saw in the Duke game, I think Flagg, Knueppel, Evans, Malauch were all more impressive than KJ/Riley.
Flagg is self explanatory.
Knueppel reminds me of a Devin Booker clone. He’s going to score a ton of points in the NBA. He’s even little bigger than Booker was. I am super high on him.
Evans has a great stroke. All he did was catch and shoot though. Reminded me somewhat of JR Smith.
Maluach is a rarity. An actual rim protecting center that knows his role. He went up and grabbed rebounds with 2 hands, kept the ball high, and didn’t try to do too much or things he couldn’t do on offense. I think a playoff team drafting in the lower 1st will take him.
Riley certainly a very thin ISO player. He will never play in the NBA at his weight IMO. He had to gain a lot. Reminds me of Emoni Bates and Bates hasn’t really made it into the league.
KJ…if I was a fan of an NBA team I would not want my team to draft him. Yes he’s 18 and lots of room to develop. But if he doesn’t have handle at the college level, he will get eaten alive at the pro level.
Flagg is self explanatory.
Knueppel reminds me of a Devin Booker clone. He’s going to score a ton of points in the NBA. He’s even little bigger than Booker was. I am super high on him.
Evans has a great stroke. All he did was catch and shoot though. Reminded me somewhat of JR Smith.
Maluach is a rarity. An actual rim protecting center that knows his role. He went up and grabbed rebounds with 2 hands, kept the ball high, and didn’t try to do too much or things he couldn’t do on offense. I think a playoff team drafting in the lower 1st will take him.
Riley certainly a very thin ISO player. He will never play in the NBA at his weight IMO. He had to gain a lot. Reminds me of Emoni Bates and Bates hasn’t really made it into the league.
KJ…if I was a fan of an NBA team I would not want my team to draft him. Yes he’s 18 and lots of room to develop. But if he doesn’t have handle at the college level, he will get eaten alive at the pro level.
In my younger days & personal experience, and my further observations into my (now) 60's, it's a heck of a lot easier to put on muscle & mass in your 20's than it is in your teens. Body Chemistry/maturation and all that good stuff has born that out over time. The NBA has enough data over a lot of years tracking drafted players to bear out the fact that gaining strength with certain body types/frames, is a solid bet and worth taking a flyer on. I'm almost at this point in our season thinking Riley's a surer bet to stick in the NBA than KJ is. But what do I know???
Vecenie newest big board has Will Riley at #49.
I have been told on here, and believed myself, he was a surefire 1st rounder. Is the overall zeitgeist shifting on his draft stock or is this some anomaly?
ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
KJ 5, Tomi 56
2025 NBA Draft Big Board: Derik Queen, V.J. Edgecombe rise among top 100 prospects
Cooper Flagg is unquestionably the No. 1 player in this draft class. Things will get interesting quickly after the top few picks.
www.nytimes.com
Riley is a tricky one to project NBA-wise. Very fluid athlete that gets through traffic and to the rim like an NBA player and has an innate scoring gene. Obvious NBA wing body. But he's very skinny, very raw, and just has a weird herky-jerkiness to his game.
Also, his limited role early and recent growth will be taken into account. I bet he goes to the workouts. I wouldn't be surprised if he turns some heads in those. You don't have to squint very hard to envision him as a 12–15-year starter in the Association.KJ 5, Tomi 56
2025 NBA Draft Big Board: Derik Queen, V.J. Edgecombe rise among top 100 prospects
Cooper Flagg is unquestionably the No. 1 player in this draft class. Things will get interesting quickly after the top few picks.
Riley is a tricky one to project NBA-wise. Very fluid athlete that gets through traffic and to the rim like an NBA player and has an innate scoring gene. Obvious NBA wing body. But he's very skinny, very raw, and just has a weird herky-jerkiness to his game.
He obviously has some work to do on his body, but when you remember he is supposed to be a senior in High School, any concerns about his ability to get stronger are likely put to bed.
You just don't find many 6'8" guys who can handle, pass and get the ball on the rim softly, and in so many different ways.
Bigtex
- DFW
Love Riley but he is not smooth, quick, or strong with the ball. Seems a bit indecisive and despite being herky-jerky he puts the ball in the hoop. Also, don't consider him a plus defender. Don't watch a minute of NBA but hard to see him as 1st round draft pick (right now).KJ 5, Tomi 56
2025 NBA Draft Big Board: Derik Queen, V.J. Edgecombe rise among top 100 prospects
Cooper Flagg is unquestionably the No. 1 player in this draft class. Things will get interesting quickly after the top few picks.
Riley is a tricky one to project NBA-wise. Very fluid athlete that gets through traffic and to the rim like an NBA player and has an innate scoring gene. Obvious NBA wing body. But he's very skinny, very raw, and just has a weird herky-jerkiness to his game.
All this are fluid, I will say probably only the 1-8 are close to a lock.Surprised by this.....
ginabackes00
CrazedUIFan
But you can see his growth this year and his potential. He's going harder to the hoop than he did earlier in the year and less indecisive. He's a pro. It's just a matter of teams wanting to wait a year as he builds strength or take him and develop him earlier.
Going back to school makes so much sense for Riley. He’s young so another year in which he gains mass and gets an opportunity to be the guy is a logical choice. Getting mocked in the mid-late 2nd at this stage should lead to that conversation for his camp imo
Bigtex
- DFW
correct - I see the upside potential but the current product is very raw.
I will remind everyone that Johnny Davis got taken 10th. (I laughed at the screen when it happened.) Never doubt the willingness of teams to draft a guy so clearly unprepared for the league in the hopes of developing him.
Sure, but Davis was a 1st team All-American & POY candidate. He wasn't going to develop much further in college.
And NBA teams have successfully developed tons of players. Devin Booker didn't start a single game in college, and while he played well, was far from a complete player. He went 13th, which in retrospect was a steal.
blackdog
- Champaign
Also let's not hold up the Wizards as a shinning example of drafts competence.
Yeah, but Luka Garza got the accolades and went second round, they don't mean actually mean a whole lot. And "He wasn't going to develop much further in college" could apply to a spectrum of players, it'd be like trying to sell Ben Humrichous to teams because he surely isn't developing any further in college.
Your second statement is what I'm saying- all it takes is one NBA team to think they can develop a player and he's drafted, and I think both KJ and Will Riley have a team out there for that.
I think he declares, get's feedback, and returns.KJ 5, Tomi 56
2025 NBA Draft Big Board: Derik Queen, V.J. Edgecombe rise among top 100 prospects
Cooper Flagg is unquestionably the No. 1 player in this draft class. Things will get interesting quickly after the top few picks.
Riley is a tricky one to project NBA-wise. Very fluid athlete that gets through traffic and to the rim like an NBA player and has an innate scoring gene. Obvious NBA wing body. But he's very skinny, very raw, and just has a weird herky-jerkiness to his game.
Booker was a freshman playing behind the Harrison twins. He would have started everywhere else.
- Status