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The Illinois basketball team is back in the NCAA Tournament in part because of the play of dynamic freshman Kasparas Jakucionis.
The dangerous 6-foot-6, 205-pound guard averaged 15.0 points and 5.6 rebounds per game, while shooting 32.9 percent from 3-point range on the way to being named to the all-Big Ten Conference third team and the all-freshman team.
Here is what you need to know about the 18-year-old NBA prospect from Lithuania:
Jakicionis is mentioned near the top of many NBA mock drafts and considered a lottery pick in all of them, according to consensus rankings at Hoops Hype.
Scouts like his court vision, passing, shooting touch and "smooth, methodical style of play," writes Hoops Hype, comparing him to Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton.
"He’s got the size, vision, and versatility that NBA teams love in a guard," wrote Cyro Asseo de Choch. "Whether he’s running the offense, spacing the floor, or making creative finishes at the rim, Jakucionis has the tools to be a well-rounded guard at the next level."
Jakicionis was born in the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius in May of 2006. Vilnius has about 600,000 people and is the most populous city in the so-called Baltic states of Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia — which sit in northern Europe and across the Baltic Sea from Sweden, Finland and Norway.
Illinois guard Kasparas Jakucionis pronounces his name with seven syllables: "KAS-per-es/yah-koo-CHOH-nis," according to the University of Illinois media guide.
In 2020, Jakucionis began playing with youth teams associated with Lithuanian pro basketball. In 2021, he moved to youth teams with Spain's FC Barcelona and by April 2023 had debuted with Barca's top team. In 2022 and 2023, he represented Lithuania at the FIBA U16 and U18 European Championships, winning gold with the U16 team. In May 2024, he committed to Illinois.
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Kasparas Jakucionis: What to know about Illinois basketball's Lithuanian NBA prospect
Continue reading...
The dangerous 6-foot-6, 205-pound guard averaged 15.0 points and 5.6 rebounds per game, while shooting 32.9 percent from 3-point range on the way to being named to the all-Big Ten Conference third team and the all-freshman team.
Here is what you need to know about the 18-year-old NBA prospect from Lithuania:
How good is Kasparas Jakucionis?
Jakicionis is mentioned near the top of many NBA mock drafts and considered a lottery pick in all of them, according to consensus rankings at Hoops Hype.
Scouts like his court vision, passing, shooting touch and "smooth, methodical style of play," writes Hoops Hype, comparing him to Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton.
"He’s got the size, vision, and versatility that NBA teams love in a guard," wrote Cyro Asseo de Choch. "Whether he’s running the offense, spacing the floor, or making creative finishes at the rim, Jakucionis has the tools to be a well-rounded guard at the next level."
Where is Kasparas Jakucionis from?
Jakicionis was born in the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius in May of 2006. Vilnius has about 600,000 people and is the most populous city in the so-called Baltic states of Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia — which sit in northern Europe and across the Baltic Sea from Sweden, Finland and Norway.
How do you pronounce Kasparas Jakucionis?
Illinois guard Kasparas Jakucionis pronounces his name with seven syllables: "KAS-per-es/yah-koo-CHOH-nis," according to the University of Illinois media guide.
Where did Kasparas Jakucionis play before Illinois?
In 2020, Jakucionis began playing with youth teams associated with Lithuanian pro basketball. In 2021, he moved to youth teams with Spain's FC Barcelona and by April 2023 had debuted with Barca's top team. In 2022 and 2023, he represented Lithuania at the FIBA U16 and U18 European Championships, winning gold with the U16 team. In May 2024, he committed to Illinois.
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Kasparas Jakucionis: What to know about Illinois basketball's Lithuanian NBA prospect
Continue reading...
