CODY RILEY

#41 RANKED PLAYER IN THE COUNTRY (CLASS OF 2017)

STAR RANKING: 4 STARS

HEIGHT:  6’8”

WEIGHT: 240 POUNDS

POSITION: POWER FORWARD

HIGH SCHOOL: SIERRA CANYON HIGH SCHOOL IN CALIFORNIA

CHOSE UCLA OVER: UCONN, OKLAHOMA, KANSAS, USC, AMONG OTHERS

PLAYER SUMMARY: UCLA had a great 2016-17 season. They revitalized college basketball back on campus. Lonzo Ball and T.J. Leaf were 2 major reasons why. With both heading off to the NBA, head coach Steve Alford had to bring in reinforcements. He might have Leaf’s successor in Cody Riley.

Riley and Leaf are not the same type of player. Riley already has the look of an NBA player. He is well-built, with real long arms. What stood out to us when evaluating him was his athletic ability. He is a better athlete than we first thought. He will bring a wide array of skills to the Bruins team next season.

The 4-star recruit will bring much needed toughness and strength to a team which was lacking in these areas this past season. His ability to rebound the ball at a high rate is going to get him immediate playing time, as he has a very good chance to start right away. He shows very nice shooting mechanics for a power forward.

The lefty shooting Riley has shown the ability to consistently hit the mid-range jumper, which will only make him a better player down low in the paint. Riley shows flashes of a few low-post moves. We believe he needs to continue to develop his skills as a post player so he isn’t just a PF who shoots mid-range jumpers. He will have an advantage against opposing teams because of his brute strength. He will need to take advantage of that.

We like his ability to pass for a big-man. With the Bruins playing an up-tempo style, it is good to have a PF be able to pass the ball, much like T.J Leaf could. He can also handle the ball solidly for his size. Riley can be prone to try and force things on the offensive end, which leads to turnovers. We aren’t really concerned with this as most elite high school players have the same tendencies.

Cody Riley was a much needed commitment for Alford and UCLA. Losing Ball and Leaf are 2 huge losses. If Cody Riley plays the way he is capable of, he will definitely make his mark early on in his UCLA career. As previously mentioned, he will bring a much needed physical presence on both ends of the floor. His ability to rebound, hit the mid-range jumper, and play hard will endear himself to Bruins fans.

BELOW ARE HIGHLIGHTS OF CODY RILEY

What type of player do you expect Riley to become?

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