Recruiting Report: Cody Riley (2017)
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Sierra Canyon (Cal.) 2017 PF Cody Riley has yet to make a commitment, but his hometown team is certainly among his favorites. A strong, powerful 6-foot-8 power forward, Riley is among the most highly sought after recruits…
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Continue ReadingSPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Sierra Canyon (Cal.) 2017 PF Cody Riley has yet to make a commitment, but his hometown team is certainly among his favorites.
A strong, powerful 6-foot-8 power forward, Riley is among the most highly sought after recruits in the Class of 2017. On Thursday, he showed off an all-around skill set at the 2016 Bass Pro Tournament of Champions in Springfield, knocking down perimeter jumpers and dominating the paint.
Riley spoke afterwards about his recruitment, which has heated up over the years.
“UCLA is definitely the favorite right now,” Riley said. “I have built a great relationship with Steve Alford and (assistant) Duane Broussard. I’m really looking for a strong relationship and someone I can trust and I have built that so far with UCLA the most.”
Also in the hunt are Kansas, UConn, USC and others as Riley has a slew of high level Division I offers. Riley has taken unofficial visits to UCLA, USC, Kansas, North Carolina State and even took an unofficial to Duke as an eighth-grader.
“UCLA was definitely a favorite because it’s right down the street from my house,” Riley said. “The environment is great and there are a lot of kids from my school that go there.”
Riley said he hasn’t set a timeframe for a commitment, and is just taking things one step at a time.
“I haven’t really set a time frame, I am just trying to build relationships and with that comes time,” he said. “Whenever I feel comfortable with making a decision is when it will happen. It could be next week or in a few months.”
Alford was in attendance at his old school, Missouri State, on Thursday to watch Riley and several other star players.
“I didn’t pay too much attention to it, I try not to pay attention to people off the court,” Riley said. “I just try to make sure to stay focused and do what is best for my team. But it is definitely great for him to come out here and showing me some love. He sent me a text message before the game and I really appreciate that.”
Riley said he brings energy to the court and is an obvious mismatch for most opponents. Against a smaller hometown Kickapoo team, Riley put up 30 points and 13 rebounds, going 12 for 17 from the field.
“Usually, if I have a smaller guy on me I can take him into the post and if I have a bigger guy I can face him up,” Riley said. “On the defensive side, I love playing defense, blocking shots and being active.”
Riley said finishing above the rim is something he is working to excel at with an eye toward the future.
“That is definitely one of my weaknesses, I tend to settle for a layup, but I need to be finishing above the rim strong and powerful,” Riley said.
Sierra Canyon head coach Ty Nichols said Riley has continued to improve since bursting on the scene as a highly touted freshman.
“He has steadily improved every year and that’s all we can ask,” Nichols said. ”
I think the final piece is adding a right hand in the post (Riley is left handed) so he has a right and left handed jumper.
“I think once he has that he’ll be the complete package.”
Riley said he has watched the Tournament of Champions on television the past several years and enjoyed competing against the hometown Kickapoo Chiefs.
“It is a blessing to be here playing with guys that I enjoy playing the game of basketball with,” Riley said. “The environment out there was great and the atmosphere … you couldn’t ask for more.”