Illinois bounced back strong on Tuesday, crushing Iowa 81-61 to snap their three-game skid. At 18-11 overall and 10-8 in the Big Ten, they’re looking to finish strong with just two regular-season games left before tournament time.
But the real story this season has been their freshman sensation, Kasparas Jakucionis.
The 18-year-old guard has been turning heads all year, leading the Fighting Illini with 15.3 points and 4.8 assists per game. Not bad for a first-year player in one of college basketball’s toughest conferences.
At 6’6″ and 200 pounds, Jakucionis has NBA scouts drooling. He’s got the size you want in a modern guard and some seriously polished skills that are pretty rare for someone his age.
“He’s got the total package as an on-ball offensive engine,” one NBA scout recently told RealGM.
What makes him special? It’s his pick-and-roll game. The freshman plays like a veteran, making smart decisions and finding teammates with passes that most college players just don’t see.
Sure, there are things to work on. His three-point shooting (32.6%) could use some work, and he’s not the most explosive athlete out there. But those aren’t deal-breakers.
In fact, his passing numbers might be even more impressive considering his teammates are shooting just 30.5% from deep this year. Imagine what he could do with NBA shooters around him.
Most mock drafts have Jakucionis going around fifth overall in June’s NBA draft, right after Rutgers’ Dylan Harper among guards.
With March Madness approaching, he’ll have plenty of chances to show why he deserves to be picked that high – or maybe even higher.
The tournament stage is where stars are born. And for Jakucionis, it could be the perfect launching pad to the NBA.
