Kasparas Jakucionis: A Rising Star from Illinois to the NBA
In the world of college basketball, few stories capture the imagination quite like that of Kasparas Jakucionis. The Illinois freshman, who has been turning heads all season, has officially declared for the 2025 NBA draft. This announcement, made to ESPN, marks a significant milestone in the young athlete’s career, as he is projected to be a top-10 pick.
“This has been my dream from a young age,” Jakucionis shared with ESPN. “I’ve waited for this moment a long time. Saying goodbye to Illinois will be the hardest part. I’ve made friendships and built real relationships with players, coaches, support staff, and everyone around Champaign. My goal now is to work as hard as I can, and be the best version of myself.”
Jakucionis has certainly made his mark during his time at Illinois. As ESPN’s No. 9-ranked draft prospect, he was named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team and All-Big Ten Second Team. His impressive stats include averaging 15.0 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 4.7 assists this season. Despite Illinois’ journey ending in the NCAA tournament’s round of 32 with a loss to No. 3 seed Kentucky, Jakucionis’ performance was a highlight.
“It went by so fast,” Jakucionis reflected. “There were a lot of ups and downs with a young team, where almost no one had played in the NCAA tournament before. Coach [Brad] Underwood and my teammates trusted me. We built a great relationship, chemistry and bond. The connections I made will stay with me for a long time.”
Originating from Vilnius, Lithuania, Jakucionis took an unconventional path by choosing college basketball in the United States over the traditional European league route. He was one of the youngest players to play for Euroleague powerhouse Barcelona, making his ACB debut at just 16. His international experience is extensive, having represented Lithuania at the U16 and U18 Eurobaskets in 2022, 2023, and 2024.
“I wanted to be closer to American basketball,” Jakucionis explained. “The academic side is very important for me and my family. And of course, for the NBA, it helps. The competition in college is extremely high level. Every game and detail matters. You’re competing against the best young players in the world. The facilities at Illinois are incredible in terms of player development, weight room, recovery and staff. These are the best conditions in the world. I grew a lot as a player and person, seeing a different culture and different style of basketball. I’m happy I chose the college route and got to be a part of the Illinois program. I would tell any young player in Europe, as long as you aren’t scared, and if you want to get tougher, you should pick the U.S. route.”
Jakucionis’ talent was evident from the start of the season, catching the attention of NBA scouts with his impressive combination of size (6-foot-6), toughness, pace, feel for the game, playmaking, and shot-making prowess. He excels in pick-and-roll situations, playing an intelligent and unselfish brand of basketball, and is known for his ability to play through contact aggressively.
His inspirations are clear, as Jakucionis mentioned, “Luka Doncic is the main player I study in terms of how he reads the game. I watch the NBA of course, how guards are attacking each other, defensive adjustments and pick-and-roll reads. I also watch a lot of Euroleague and ACB. Trying 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 incredible.”
As the NBA draft combine approaches, scheduled for May 11-18 in Chicago, and the draft itself set for June 25-26 in New York, all eyes will be on Jakucionis. His journey from Lithuania to Illinois and now potentially to the NBA is a testament to his dedication and talent.
Jonathan Givony is an NBA draft expert and the founder and co-owner of DraftExpress.com, a private scouting and analytics service used by NBA, NCAA and international teams.
Originally Written by: Jonathan Givony
