2025 Kentucky basketball target to have reclassifying decision by 'middle or end' of June

Will Riley is strongly considering a move to the 2024 class and a decision is likely coming soon.
Former Kentucky basketball player and new head coach Mark Pope was animated during his announcement at Rupp Arena in Lexington Ky. on April 14, 2024.
Former Kentucky basketball player and new head coach Mark Pope was animated during his announcement at Rupp Arena in Lexington Ky. on April 14, 2024. / Sam Upshaw Jr./Courier Journal / USA
facebooktwitterreddit

2025 wing Will Riley has been one of the more impressive prospects in any class this spring and could be nearing a possible decision.

Riley, who has a top list of Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Kentucky and the NBL, is in the process of visiting schools and making a decision on which class he'll be in. At the moment, he's in the 2025 class but there is a very large chance he makes the jump to 2024.

Regardless of class, Kentucky remains heavily involved and are expected to receive a visit in the coming weeks. According to a recent report, Riley will be in Lexington in early June.

With most of Kentucky's roster already on campus, a decision about reclassifying will need to most likely come in the next month, something Riley understands.

“It’s a good problem to have when you have all really good options,” Riley told Rivals national analyst Jason Jordan. “I think I’ll have a decision on reclassifying by the middle of June or the end of June. I just have to weigh everything out.”

Kentucky still has two available scholarships next year and Mark Pope has been very open about how he wants to use them. A reclass candidate could be one way.

Riley burst on to the scene earlier this spring when he was named the MVP of the Basketball Without Borders event during the NBA All-Star weekend.

He's followed up a good sophomore season at The Phelps School (Pa.) with a terrific spring on the AAU Circuit. Playing for UPLAY on the Nike EYBL circuit, Riley put together one of the most impressive games by any prospect this spring. Last weekend, the first live session of the spring, Riley had a massive 42-point outing where he was 15-of-16 from the floor.

Mark Pope was on hand to see a very efficient and effective weekend from Riley in Indianapolis. The 6-foot-8 wing averaged 25.8 points per game. 

"The 6-foot-8 forward can not only shoot it at a high level," 247Sports national analyst Dushawn London wrote last weekend. "But also uses his size to get to his mid range pull up, along with his smooth touch around the rim."

Riley is ranked the No. 16 overall player in the 247Sports Composite Rankings and is the No. 3 small forward in the class. 

If Kentucky can grab RIley for the 2024 class, it would be a massive addition to an already talented team. The roster still needs a few adiditional pieces, expeically scoring the ball on the perimter. We'll see what happens, but this next few weeks will be incredible important for Pope and Kentucky.

feed