Return of the Don: Breaking Down Tyrone Riley IV's All-Around Impact
Despite being one of the most highly sought-after transfers in the portal, San Francisco's Tyrone Riley IV has decided to return to the Dons for his sophomore campaign
In today’s tumultuous era of transfer portal mayhem, mid-major programs find themselves decimated annually by predatory high-major behemoths looking to poach top talent. Mid-major staffs do the necessary work of discovering and procuring these players, most of whom were under the radar recruits that powerhouse programs wouldn’t dream of offering out of high school. Then, after said player comes into their own at the program that took a chance on them, those high major giants come calling with monetary offers just enticing enough to supersede loyalty. This is why it’s so refreshing when one of these players decides to stay with their program, which is exactly what San Francisco’s Tyrone Riley IV has chosen to do ahead of his sophomore season. The dynamic two-way wing was a hot commodity in the transfer portal, with programs such as Kentucky, Arizona, USC, Arkansas, Ohio State and many more vying for his talents. However, he recently announced he’ll be sticking with the Dons, as he looks to be the next player to leave that historical program for the NBA, not for greener pastures at the collegiate level.
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Player Profile:
Tyrone Riley IV is a 6’6” and 180lb wing from Watts, California who played his prep career at St. Pius – St. Matthias Academy in Downey, California. He had a prolific high school career, stuffing the stat sheet as he helped cement St. Pius – St. Matthias as a basketball powerhouse in one of the most competitive states in the country. He eventually became a consensus top 150 recruit in the 2024 graduating class, earning three-star status in the process. Despite not being a highly touted recruit, he still picked up offers from programs such as Florida, USC, Texas A&M, Xavier, and California. However, he decided to take his talents to the San Francisco Dons and head coach Chris Gerlufsen. Perhaps he decided to join the Dons to follow in his father’s footsteps, who starred for the program from 2003-05.
He came out of the gates hot, scoring 26 points in his college debut against Cal Poly. Three games later he pitched in 28 points against Chicago State. However, those totals would be his two highest marks of the season, as he’d come back down to Earth for the remainder of the season. He fell to third in the offensive pecking order behind upperclassmen Malik Thomas and Marcus Williams. On the season, Riley posted averages of 9.6 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 1.2 steals, and .4 blocks per game on shooting splits of 50.2% from the field, 32.2% from beyond the arc, and 73.5% from the free-throw line. He started all 34 of the team’s games and led the roster in rebounds per game.
Following a successful freshman season, Riley entered his name into the transfer portal. He was ranked as a four-star transfer and was immediately considered one of the top underclassmen transfer targets in the nation. However, after testing the waters and seeing exactly how he was valued among high major programs, he decided it was in his best interest to stay with San Francisco. Now he heads into his sophomore season as the likely go-to guy for the Dons following the departure of Thomas and the graduation of Williams.
Interior Scoring:
Riley’s offensive output is heavily reliant on around- and above-the-rim scoring. While he is a capable outside shooter and dabbled from the mid-range, his game is founded on his ability to score at the rim. Luckily for him and for the Dons, he’s an exceptional scorer from this range. He’s a lanky athlete with impressive vertical pop, allowing him to consistently finish over opponents. He has shown some flashes of dribble-drive self-creation, but where he’s most dangerous is operating away from the ball as a slashing play finisher. All in all, this element of his game is not only where he’s at his best currently, but also where he has the highest ceiling from a long-term perspective.
Beyond pure athleticism, Riley possesses an array of skills that make him a very effective at-the-rim off-ball finisher. His timing on cuts is elite, and he’s able to go from standing still and straight up to accelerating toward the rim with real speed in the blink of an eye. When he’s not throwing down dunks, he’s a talented mid-air contortionist, converting from strange angles all around the rim. He plays far bigger than his listed 180lbs would suggest, often going straight through the body of interior defenders before utilizing his length to finish around them. His finishing touch is incredibly soft, which suggests further development as a mid-range agent and outside shooter in the future.
Often, his on-ball interior offense is simply an extension of his off-ball work. By that I mean in most cases he only puts the ball on the floor if necessary, following receiving a pass in a similar fashion to his off-ball attempts. Perhaps he’ll attack a closeout for an emphatic dunk. Maybe he’ll post up his defender after receiving the ball in the paint. On rare occasions he will put the ball on the floor along the perimeter and make an effort to beat his defender off the dribble. He has shown enough promise in this department for me to predict growth in his future, but as of today he’s not a very strong on-ball scorer from any level of the floor.
Very few players in the country are as effective attacking the basket on the fast break as Riley. Not only is he capable of throwing down monstrous slam dunks and leaping from just in front of the free-throw line, but he also possesses pace control skills that make him wildly difficult to defend. If the lane isn’t wide open and he knows he may face a contest at the rim, he’s liable to slow down and leave defenders coasting past him, generating easy points. He maintains strong court awareness, seemingly always knowing where everyone else on the court is, which makes him less likely to be stopped in these situations.
Mid-Range Scoring:
Very little of Riley’s scoring is done from the mid-range, so let’s quickly cover how he has looked on the rare attempt from this level and if he could strengthen his in-between game in the future. He almost never attempts a traditional jump shot from this range, whether it be a pull-up, turnaround, or step-back. He’s far more likely to put up a floater or baby hook, especially in offensive rebound situations. That said, he’s also liable to attempt a floater on possessions where defenders expect him to take it all the way to the hoop. While this isn’t a common element of his game, I do think his floater will continue to develop, as it perfectly complements his around-the-rim offense.
On many of the floaters he attempted this season I felt he looked rushed, as if he didn’t mean to leave the floor as early as he did, forcing him to attempt a floater. His touch here doesn’t seem as soft as it does when he’s around and under the basket, and he’s evidently less confident attempting these looks than he is other shots around the floor. All in all, his growth in this department will be vital for the diversification of his offensive arsenal, an incredibly valuable trait when it comes to making a professional leap in the future.
As I said, Riley simply doesn’t attempt traditional jump shots from the mid-range. I watched just about every San Francisco game I could get my hands on and only caught him taking this lone mid-range pull-up jumper. It’s impossible to draw conclusions about long term growth based on one shot, but we can use his success-rates from other areas to take a guess about his mid-range shooting ceiling. For example, he’s a solid free-throw shooter, which tends to suggest future shooting success. He had an inconsistent outside shooting season, but as you will soon see, I think he’ll be a solid long-range shooter throughout his career. Because of this, I see no reason besides a lack of confidence why Riley shouldn’t be a better and more willing shooter from the mid-range.
Outside Shooting:
If I had to take a guess of what Riley will be described as when he inevitably enters his name into a future NBA Draft, it would be three-and-d wing. We’ll cover his defensive game soon enough, but for the time being let’s break down his outside shooting. Much like his mid-range game, Riley’s beyond the arc shooting is one dimensional, but unlike his mid-range game, he’s willing to take and able to make the shots which make up that dimension. His attempts are almost exclusively catch-and-shoot looks, and even though I’m a fan of his catch-and-shoot shot making, he has a lot of work to do before he’ll be considered a legitimate long-range marksman.
When you consider how Riley operates, it’s no shock that almost all of his shots are generated away from the ball. He’s a constant off-ball mover, always cutting to the rim in search of an opportunity to receive a pass around the rim for an easy finish. His outside shots usually come in-between these cuts, when for whatever reason his defender fails to cover him along the perimeter. He takes these shots with confidence and has solid mechanics for a guy who isn’t heavily reliant on the outside shot. He does start his shot motion rather low, but he gets the ball high for his shot release and remains relatively fluid throughout. He jumps forward on these looks which does result in the occasional drawn foul, a small but important wrinkle to consider. All in all, consistency from beyond the arc is the next step for him in this department, which I think he can develop through simple repetition and experience.
Throughout my dive into Riley’s film, this clip may have been the only real self-created outside shot that I caught. That said, something about the way he moves not only on this particular attempt but also in other scenarios leaves me hopeful about his future as an on-ball shooter. I doubt he will ever become a volume on-ball creator from any level, but development in this area would further diversify his game and make him an even more challenging matchup for defenders. I am of the opinion that he still has a ton of development ahead of him, and I’m hoping San Francisco has the development staff necessary to see him through that process.
Passing & Playmaking:
Much like his mid-range/in-between game, Riley is a very limited passer and playmaker for others. I doubt this comes as a shock to you seeing how little he has the ball in his hands, but for the sake of covering every element of his game it’s necessary to talk about his passing. I will say this, his overall feel for the game leaves me hopeful about his long-term outlook as a tertiary passer. I’d also argue that he could easily become a productive kickout passer because of the sheer total of possessions that see him with the ball in his hands near the basket. I doubt passing and playmaking will ever be a major element of his game, but much like his on-ball shot creation, improvements in this department would further bolster his overall offensive versatility.
Rebounding:
Riley’s most unique trait may be his offensive rebounding. For some reason, he is naturally excellent at this aspect of the game. He doesn’t necessarily snag a ton of offensive boards, only 1.8 per game (which is very good for a wing, to be fair). However, what he does do at an extraordinary rate is turn offensive rebounds into immediate points. Not only is he fantastic on tip-ins, but he’s also capable of coming down with the ball, finding stronger scoring position, and then going back up for a bucket. He’s very confident in these situations, and I think this will continue to be a major element of his game going forward.
Riley’s elite vertical pop makes him very good on tip-ins and put-back dunks. That said, what impresses me the most is his willingness to make consistent attempts at getting a hand on the ball in these scenarios. He’s great at finding strong rebounding position and his timing is almost always perfect. As he progresses through his college career and adds strength to his thin frame, I think he will only get better as an offensive rebounder (and defensive rebounder, for what it’s worth).
It’s when he actually comes down with the ball when his skill as an offensive rebounder and immediate offensive converter is most evident. This is where you see him slither around a box out or even jump clear over an interior big for a board. This is where you see how strong his court awareness is, as he’s able to square his body up and go up for an attempt no matter where he finds himself following the rebound. His second jump is incredibly quick, which allows him to get shots off before rim protectors even know where he is. His feel and efficiency in these situations give me a lot of hope not only for his around-the-rim scoring and offensive rebounding games, but also his offensive output as a whole.
Defense:
One could argue that the most promising element of Riley’s game is his defense, and while I would probably still point toward his play finishing, I definitely understand this argument. As far as freshman are concerned, he was about as good on the defensive end as they come. He knows how important his impact on this end is for his team and therefore remains active and aware at all times. He utilizes his elite athleticism, length, and instincts to defend every position other than centers, and does so at a high level. Finally, unlike most players, Riley gives a consistent effort on the defensive end, which, in my opinion, is the most important thing a player can do to ensure that they make an impact on this end of the floor.
Most of his steals are generated away from the ball, but I feel rather confident in his ability both on- and off-the-ball. As far as steals are concerned, he does a great job jumping passing lanes and sneaking his hands into driving lanes. That said, even when he isn’t generating steals, he does a good job of staying with his matchup and makes opposing offenses as stagnant as possible. I wouldn’t call him a pesky defender, but he’s certainly an opportunist who is more than willing to take chances on turning opponents over. What makes him special is that he is successful more often than not when he takes these risks. It’s also important to note that when he does come up with steals, he’s very good at immediately pushing in transition and finishing at the other end for easy points.
He comes up with less blocks than you’d probably expect from someone as defensively talented, athletic, and lanky as Riley. That said, I found that he almost always gives a solid contest and is very good about remaining vertical and not fouling. He averaged only 1.9 fouls per game, a shockingly low number for a defensive specialist such as himself. I do think he could improve as a help side rim protector, but I’m almost certain he will make positive developments in this area throughout his career. Overall, I expect him to be one of the higher upside defensive prospects in whatever draft he does eventually enter, and if he sticks around in college, I could see him eventually transferring up to be a defensive stopper for a national championship caliber team.
Summary:
Before I summarize Riley’s game in its entirety, I want to list out any and all of his weaknesses and flaws. Before I do so, it’s important to remember that every player has countless weaknesses. Even the best players in the world are constantly working to improve their flaws. As long as these weaknesses are viewed that way, as areas in need of improvement, the player will be better for it.
His physical profile leaves a bit to be desired, but that’s not necessarily something he can totally control. He’s slightly on the shorter side for a wing and could really benefit from adding some weight as long as he’s able to maintain his athletic prowess.
Can struggle with contact around the rim at times if he’s faced with a truly imposing interior defender. I think he tends to do a good job going through bodies but does struggle with legitimate size at times.
Because of this, he does tend to avoid contact when given the option. This isn’t inherently a bad thing if it improves his conversion rate, but it does lessen the number of trips he takes to the free-throw line.
While I do think his dribble-drive shot creation is his best self-creation level, he still has a long way to go. His handle is pretty loose, and he doesn’t create much separation on his drives.
It’s vital that he strengthens his in-between game, especially regarding floaters and push shots. This may come naturally as he increases his dribble-drive volume, but without adding this element of his game he will never be a truly well-rounded interior scorer.
His catch-and-shoot outside shooting needs some work, specifically regarding consistent mechanics and his low shooting pocket. That said, I think he’ll eventually be a well above average off-ball shooter.
His on-ball shot creation from beyond the arc is incredibly limited. Much like his self-creation from other scoring levels, a lot of these issues are because of his weak handle. That said, I saw intriguing flashes from him this year and believe he could develop this part of his game in the future.
He’s a very limited passer who seems to maintain a one-track mind on the offensive end, that being attack the basket. Developing a stronger passing game, especially when it comes to kickout passing, would go a long way toward making him a more complete offensive player.
Defensively, he’s pretty solid across the board. The only issues I have with him are that he’ll occasionally take too many risks, sometimes he isn’t strong enough to hold opponents up down low, and he tends to get lazy when he should act as a help side rim protector.
To summarize Tyrone Riley IV’s game, he’s an athletic wing who is already one of the better defensive wings in all of mid-major basketball while still developing as an offensive player. While he is already an excellent off-ball play finisher around and above the rim, the rest of his offensive arsenal still needs a lot of work. Beyond at-the-rim play finishing and catch-and-shoot three-point shooting, Riley is rather limited in every other offensive aspect. That said, he still manages to be an incredibly impactful and efficient player. This fact leads me to believe that if he ever develops into an all-around offensive contributor, he could be one of the better three-and-d wings in all of college basketball.
Based on his long list of suitors once he entered his name into the transfer portal, I assume that more respected basketball minds than me would agree with my sentiments regarding Riley. This is a player that I believe is a very real NBA prospect, and someone that I could see making a professional leap as soon as next year. As much as I’d like to see him remain at the mid-major level throughout his college career, I will admit that this is likely a naive hope. If he does stick around in college, I do expect him to eventually transfer up to the high major level, where I believe he’ll have just as much success as he would have had had he stayed with the Dons. For the time being, us mid-major fans should enjoy him while we can, which won’t be too difficult to do seeing that San Francisco will likely be very good this upcoming season.