Illini star freshman Jakucionis to get in NBA draft

• Jonathan GivonyApr 14, 2025, 09:05 AM ET Close NBA draft analyst and writer Joined ESPN.com in July 2017
  Creator and co-owner of DraftExpress.com, a private hunting and analytics service used by NBA, NCAA and global teams

Illinois freshman Kasparas Jakucionis, a predicted top-10 choice, told ESPN that he will get in the 2025 NBA draft.

“This has actually been my dream from a young age,” Jakucionis told ESPN on Monday. “I have actually awaited this minute a long period of time. Saying goodbye to Illinois will be the hardest part. I’ve made friendships and developed real relationships with players, coaches, support personnel, and everyone around Champaign. My objective now is to work as difficult as I can, and be the very best variation of myself.”

Jakucionis, ESPN’s No. 9-ranked draft prospect, was called to the Huge Ten All-Freshman Team and All-Big Ten Junior varsity after balancing 15.0 points, 5.7 rebounds and 4.7 helps this season. Illinois made the NCAA competition’s round of 32, losing to No. 3 seed Kentucky.

“It went by so fast,” Jakucionis said. “There were a great deal of ups and downs with a young group, where almost nobody had actually played in the NCAA tournament before. Coach [Brad] Underwood and my colleagues trusted me. We developed a fantastic relationship, chemistry and bond. The connections I made will stick with me for a long period of time.”

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1 Related Jakucionis, who comes from Vilnius, Lithuania, became one of the first respected international point player to pass up the standard European league pathway in favor of playing college basketball in the United States.He was one of the

youngest players ever to play for Euroleague powerhouse Barcelona when he made his ACB launching at 16. He was an embellished player at the FIBA level, representing his home country at the U16 and U18 Eurobaskets in 2022, 2023, and 2024.”I wanted to be closer to American basketball,”Jakucionis said.”The academic side is very important for me and my family. And obviously, for the NBA, it helps. The competition in college is extremely high level. Every game and detail matters. You’re competing versus the best young players worldwide. The centers at Illinois are unbelievable in terms of player advancement, weight space, healing and personnel. These are the best conditions worldwide. I grew a lot as a player and individual, seeing a various culture and different design of basketball. I’m happy I selected the college path and got to belong of the Illinois program. I would tell any young player in Europe, as long as you aren’t frightened, and if you want to get harder, you must select the U.S. path. “When the season began, Jakucionis ‘talent stuck out right away for NBA scouts. He boasts an excellent mix of size(6-foot-6), durability, pace, feel for the game, playmaking and shot-making expertise. He’s an impressive pick-and-roll player who plays a smart and unselfish brand of basketball, getting to areas on the flooring and playing through contact aggressively.” Luka Doncic is the primary player I study in terms of how he reads the game,”Jakucionis stated.”I enjoy the NBA of

course, how guards are assaulting each other, protective modifications and pick-and-roll checks out. I also see a lot of Euroleague and ACB. Attempting to follow my former teammates in Barcelona. For passing, I like to study Nick Calathes and Kostas Sloukas. The IQ level in the Euroleague is extraordinary.”The NBA draft integrate will be held May 11-18 in Chicago; the draft will be June 25-26 in New York.Jonathan Givony is an NBA draft expert

and the creator and co-owner of DraftExpress.com, a personal scouting and analytics service used by NBA

, NCAA and international groups.