Kasparas Jakucionis surged up draft boards with his elite play early in the season with the Illinois Fighting Illini. Although he’s come back to Earth as of late, the talent he continues to display has NBA scouts excited for his potential at the next level.
Only a freshman, the Lithuanian native played for FC Barcelona before joining the Fighting Illini for the 2024-25 season. Our Kasparas Jakucionis scouting report takes a dive into his draft and career outlook, strengths, and areas of improvement as well as an intriguing player comparison.
Kasparas Jakucionis Scouting Report
Size: 6’6″, 200 pounds (Unverified)
Key Stat: Recorded the first assists-points double-double by an Illini freshman since 2008 when he recorded 12 points and 13 assists in a victory over SIUE on November 8, 2024.
Projected Role: Lead ball-handler and creator primarily out of the pick-and-roll, average team defender
Strengths:
- Excellent creator, especially out of the pick-and-roll (fourth among freshman in assists with 5.2 apg)
- Reads and passes off of defensive rotations one step ahead of everyone else on the floor
- Dictates the pace of the game at a level far beyond his years (only 18-years-old)
- Has shown ability to become a terrific outside shooter (35.0% from deep this season)
- Can make every pass on the floor, extremely creative
- Crafty scoop finishes at the rim
- Size for a primary ball-handler (reported 6’6″)
- Terrific shooter off step-backs and side-steps
- Draws fouls at a high-rate and capitalizes at the line (83.3% from the line)
Areas to Improve:
- Overall foot speed and burst, not an amazing athlete
- High turnover rate (3.6 turnovers per game)
- Lacks high-end future defensively
- Questions on if he can create his own shot at the next level
Ceiling: Offensive engine for a contending team, solid, All-Star-caliber guard
Floor: Average to below-average starter who relies too heavily on pick-and-roll and is loose with the ball.
Player Comp: Tyrese Haliburton
Kasparas Jakucionis NBA Draft Outlook
Kasparas Jakucionis possesses a rare type of skill set and has an extremely high ceiling at the next level. As a 6’6″ point guard with a terrific feel for the game and the ability to create shots for others, the Fighting Illini star is viewed as a potential building block for rebuilding teams.
Combine his creative passing with the capabilities he’s shown of creating his own shot and Jakucionis has the full package that many teams are looking for.
Also See: Ace Bailey Scouting Report
Prior to coming to the States and playing for Illinois, he played for European power FC Barcelona’s second-team. The versatility he’s shown, having to transition into the college game from Euro ball, should bode well in scouts’ eyes ahead of his transition to the NBA.
He’s expected to be — at the very least — a top-10 pick, with many believing he’s forced himself inside the top-five with his play this season.
He has shown competitiveness on the defensive end, but his lack of foot speed could scare off teams. But as a 6’6″ guard, he can easily be hidden on the opposing teams’ worst offensive player. He also rebounds well for his position, offsetting some of the defensive deficiencies.
With his pure potential in mind, Jakucionis should be a high draft pick come June.
Potential Career Outlook:
Teams picking in the range Jakucionis will likely be drafted in usually don’t have a proven ball-handler in place — perfect for the development of the Illini point guard.
His early years in the league should contain the same highlight-reel, creative passing ability he’s shown with Illinois, matched with the growing pains nearly every young guard faces in the NBA.
I compared him to the Indiana Pacers Tyrese Haliburton because of their ability to dictate the pace of the game, elevate the play of others, and with their above-average shooting ability. Jakucionis doesn’t nearly have the foot speed of the Pacers’ All-Star — but due to Haliburton’s unorthodox release, both have raised questions on how they’ll manufacture their own shots.
Jakucionis has good form on his jumper, but he’s had trouble separating at times against elite defenders at the college level. It’ll be apparent very early in his career if he can reach his true ceiling — which contains the ability to drive past defenders as well as get his three-point shot off in isolation.
If he can do that, he’ll truly blossom as a player in the league.
His teams’ entire offense would run through him, making Jakucionis the most important player on the team. With his talent, he has the capabilities of filling that role for many years in the NBA, with the potential to become an All-Star and All-NBA caliber player along the way.
Bottom Line:
Due to his upside, in hindsight, we may question why he wasn’t a sure-fire No. 1 or No. 2 pick. He was tremendous overseas with FC Barcelona as a teenager. At 18 years old, he was handed the keys to Illinois’ offense and has them in position to earn an NCAA Tournament bid while putting up a stat-line of 16.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 5.2 assists on 47.5% shooting from the field.
There are questions. He can shoot the ball, but how well will he be able to get his shot off? Can he get to the paint at a high-level? Will he be an average defender in the pros?
Through all of that, nobody can deny the sheer talent and feel the Illini star has for the game of basketball. Strictly off of that knowledge — and the eye test of seeing the youngster dictate the entire pace and dominate a college basketball game — Jakucionis has proven himself as a near can’t-miss prospect at the top of a loaded 2025 draft class.
Draft Projection: Top 5 Pick
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