What? My Name is, What? My Name is, What? A Projected Top Ten Pick on and Unranked Team; Who is He?

Illinois was an unranked team borderlining the 25th seed. But then, a projected top ten pick in the 2025 NBA Draft who’s a point guard standing at 6-6 and 200 pounds, took over and moved this program to 13th in the nation. But that's not all that is impressive about this kid. He is also an 18 year old freshman coming over to America for the first time from Lithuania to be a D1 starting point guard. This kid is Kasparas Jakucionis. Illinois was not projected to be a very good team this season with Terrence Shannon Jr. having gone pro, Coleman Hawkins transferring to Kansas State University, and Illinois having a team make-up of 4 freshmen, 4 sophomores, 4 juniors, 1 red-shirt junior, 0 seniors, and one graduate student. Yet, Jakucionis manages to keep his team in check, playing great teams close, and securing wins when they need them. He’s averaging 16.5 points (a team high), 5.7 rebounds, and 5.5 assists (another team high) per game. Kasparas played on the second team for FC Barcelone Basquet last season, and moved to America to start college at Illinois on a basketball scholarship. I wouldn't be surprised if we saw him in the NBA next season.