Former Illinois guard Kasparas Jakucionis was selected by the Miami Heat in the 2025 NBA Draft No. 20 overall.
Jakucionis projects to be a strong option as a lead guard, offering high-level shot-making and table-setting passing.
He joins a Miami backcourt that will include Tyler Herro, Terry Rozier, and Davion Mitchell.
Jakučionis closed out his freshman season as Illinois’ top scorer and facilitator, setting multiple program freshman records. His international pedigree and polished game made him a strong NBA Draft candidate, combining combo‑guard versatility with size and smarts on the court.
He is coming off of a freshman season at Illinois when he averaged 15.0 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game, with a 44.0% field goal percentage. He posted 26 games scoring in double figures and set Illini freshman record with 10 games of 20+ points. Jakucionis missed games vs. Penn State and USC with a left forearm injury.
A 6-foot-6, 205-pound freshman guard from Jakucionis eared a spot on the Big Ten All‑Freshman Team and was named third‑team All‑Big Ten. He was a freshman All-American team selection by the Athletic.
Jakucionis recorded a double-double with 16 points (9-9 FTs) and 10 assists - an Illinois freshman record for an NCAA Tournament game - and added nine rebounds in the team’s first round win vs. Xavier.
Jakucionis signed with Illinois in May 2024. A native of Vilnius, Lithuania, he played for European power FC Barcelona, primarily for Barca's second team and including limited action with the club's top team.
During the 2023-24 season, played 19 games for Barcelona's second team, averaging 19.2 points, 6.6 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 1.6 steals while shooting 48% overall, 38% from 3-point range, and 88% from the free throw line
In 2022-23, Jakucionis was named MVP of the Adidas Next Generation Tournament qualifier in Zadar, Croatia, and was selected to the ANGT Finals All-Tournament team in Kaunas, Lithuania, after averaging 18.6 points, 5.6 rebounds and 4.7 assists and 2.3 steals
There are two players who finished their careers at Illinois currently on NBA rosters. Terrence Shannon Jr. was 27th overall pick in the 1st round of the 2024 NBA Draft by the Minnesota Timberwolves. Chicago Bulls guard Ayo Dosnumn was selected in the 2nd round of the 2021 Draft.
Illinois has now seen 17 players selected in the first round of the NBA Draft. Meyers Leonard is the most recent lottery pick, going 11th overall to the Portland Trailblazers in 2012. All-American guard Deron Williams remains the highest drafted Illini, going 3rd overall to the Utah Jazz in the 2025 Draft.
