Illinois Basketball 2024-2025 Awards: Sixth Man of the Year

This week Illinois on SI will announce its 2024-25 men's basketball awards – one each, Monday through Friday – to honor the individual contributions of last season's Illini.

Defensive Player of the Year: Tomislav IvisicTransfer of The Year: Kylan Boswell

With five players averaging double-figures scoring last season, Illinois was as well-balanced and deep as any squad in college basketball. But, among that quintet of scorers, only one of them came off the bench for the majority of the season, making him the easy choice for the Illini's Sixth Man of the Year.

Illinois on SI Sixth Man of the Year: Will Riley

2024-2025 stats: 12.6 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 2.2 apg

During his freshman campaign, Riley expanded his role from beginning to end, debuting in a fairly strict spot-up-shooting role for the Illini and growing into a legitimate three-level scorer with facilitating ability by the time March rolled around.

Standing 6-foot-8 and possessing solid athleticism, Riley rose above smaller defenders and was often too quick for defenders who could match his size. A crafty scorer in the lane, Riley used shot fakes and fancy footwork to create space and get his shot off. Also an excellent cutter, Riley took advantage of Illinois’ exceptional passers – especially big man Tomislav Ivisic – to earn easy buckets on dives to the rim.