Kasparas Jakucionis helped Illinois basketball back into the NBA Draft lottery.
The Miami Heat selected Jakucionis No. 20 overall in the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft on Wednesday night. He is the first Illini picked in the NBA Draft lottery since 2012, when Meyers Leonard was picked No. 11 overall.
The Heat went 37-45 and finished 10th in the Eastern Conference during the 2024-25 regular-season.
Jakucionis played for Brad Underwood and the Illini for one season, helping them to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament before a loss to Kentucky.
Here’s what to know about Jakucionis, the Illini’s latest NBA draftee:
Kasparas Jakucionis Illinois stats, highlights
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.
Kasparas Jakucionis recruiting ranking
Jakucionis came to Illinois as a five-star recruit, considered “one of the most promising international prospects committing to the college route in the Class of 2024,” according to ESPN’s Jonathan Givony.
Jakicionis, born in the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius in May of 2006, was just 14 years old when he 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.
Kasparas Jakucionis height, weight
At the NBA draft combine, Jakucionis measured just under 6-foot-5 (without shoes) and weighed 205.2 pounds. On Illinois’ official 2024-25 roster, he was listed at 6-6 and 205 pounds.
Kasparas Jakucionis comparison in NBA
NBAdraft.net wrote that Jakucionis’ best pro comp was a combination of similar-sized guards Austin Reaves and Max Christie.
Reaves, undrafted out of Oklahoma in 2021, has grown into an important piece for the Los Angeles Lakers. He averaged 20.2 points, 5.8 assists and 4.5 rebounds as a starting guard in 2024-25. Christie, traded to the Dallas Mavericks as part of the deal for Luka Doncic, averaged 11.2 points and 4.2 rebounds in 32 games with the Mavs.
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Kasparas Jakucionis selected by Miami Heat with No. 20 pick in 2025 NBA Draft. What to know
Reporting by Dave Eminian, Peoria Journal Star / Journal Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
