As Wednesday’s NBA Draft first spherical approaches, Illinois’ Kasparas Jakucionis is probably going about to turn out to be a really rich younger man. After one season of faculty basketball, the lanky level guard prospect is without doubt one of the most wanted prospects within the NBA’s incoming class. Here is a take a look at how Jakucionis rose to prominence and the place he may land on Wednesday.
Is Jakuconis eligible for the 2025 NBA Draft?
Sure, the Illinois standout is draft eligible and selected to enter the draft. The 6-foot-6 Lithuanian guard performed his lone season of faculty basketball at Illinois. He averaged 15.0 factors, 5.7 rebounds and 4.7 assists per sport. Jakucionis shot 44% general, 32% on 3-pointers and 85% on the free throw line.
The excellent guard led Illinois to the second spherical of the NCAA Match, the place his squad suffered a season-ending loss to Kentucky. Jakucionis had 10 20+ level sport in his season with the Illini. He got here one rebound shy of a triple-double in Illinois’s first spherical NCAA Match sport with Xavier.
Jakucionis’s NBA Draft touchdown spots
1.Brooklyn Nets
The Nets maintain the eighth choose in Wednesday’s draft and have lengthy been linked with Jakucionis. The Nets truly maintain 5 first-round picks in Wednesday’s draft, so selecting the Nets as a touchdown spot is nearly cheating– they maintain over 15% of the picks, so in fact, Jakucionis might find yourself there.
However he is an elite level guard prospect who might nonetheless be on the board when Brooklyn picks first on the eighth slot. Whereas Brooklyn has some scoring punch on the guard positions, no person can run the present on the Nets roster. Jakucionis’s three-level scoring and almost 5 assists per sport within the Large Ten demonstrates why he is a strong choose.
2. Chicago Bulls
The Bulls maintain the twelfth choose and would apparently like to nab Jakucionis, if he occurs to slip that far. Chicago has a glut of backcourt gamers, however most are pretty disposable. It is completely believable that the Bulls might take Jakucionis to improve from Coby White or an getting older Josh Giddey within the backcourt.
Frankly, it does not harm that Jakucionis performed at Illinois. The Bulls aren’t going to nab an unqualified participant within the title of fan curiosity, however the place there is a strong level guard match who occurs to even be a well-recognized title, that is nearly actually not an issue for Chicago.
3. Boston Celtics
With a bevy of pre-draft trades, the Celtics are clearly getting into sturdy on rebuilding their crew. Rumors of the Celtics making an attempt to commerce up within the draft are circulating, and plenty of are speculating that Jakucionis might be the article of their final plan.
Jrue Vacation has been dealt by the Celtics and Derrick White is seemingly on the again finish of his profession. It would not be surprising if the Celtics bundled their two late first-round picks and a few gamers right into a transfer to take Jakucionis.
What do you consider Jakucionis’s NBA Draft inventory? Which crew would you wish to see land him? Share beneath in our feedback part!
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Edited by Joe Cox
