2025 NBA Draft: Kasparas Jakucionis Preseason Scouting Report
Lithuania and Illinois guard Kasparas Jakucionis is in my preseason lottery.
Birthday: May 29, 2006
Team: Illinois Fighting Illini
Measurements:
Weight: 206 pounds / 198 pounds
Wingspan: 6-foot-7½
Standing reach: 8-foot-5½
Physical comp: Nik Stauskas, Terance Mann (per youngwizzyDFS’s NBA Draft Tool)
Offense:
Offensive engine with strong positional size who, until now, has acted a primary initiator because of how he scores, handles, facilitates, and produces.
2023-24 season with youth team in Liga EBA3 (19 games):
26:32 minutes, 19.2 points, 6.6 rebounds, 5.7 assists, 3.9 turnovers, 1.6 steals, 0.3 blocks
108 assists and 74 turnovers in 19 games
48 FG%, 59.2 2P% (59/99), 37.7 3P% (43/114), 88.6 FT% (117/132)
Also made Euroleague debut and played in three ACB games with Barcelona’s senior team last season
Aggressive shooting a lot of threes and using plenty of ball screens. Fluid chaining moves together.
Likes to decel with a behind-the-back, then create separation by combining that into a sidestep or stepback three.
Can handle longer possessions, but typically doesn’t pound the air out of the ball. Quick and assertive with his moves, but usually without rushing.
Creative and crafty on-ball guard who can take on switches, isos, and ball screens. Able to organize his team, handle late game situations, and self-create to get a bucket.
Conversion from three was streakier in Adidas Next Generation Tournament play. Level of competition and defense will only go up, plus he needs the ball in his hands. Worth keeping in mind, though, that volume remained high and his overall indicators are encouraging4:
2023-24 ANGT Finals: 23.8 3P% (5/21 on 7 3PA; also 88 FT% on 22/25 FTA)
2023-24 ANGT Belgrade: 30.4 3P% (7/23 on 5.8 3PA; also 100 FT% on 27/27 FTA)
2022-23 ANGT Finals: 27.3 3P% (6/22 on 7.3 3PA; also 75 FT% on 15/20 FTA)
2022-23 ANGT Zadar: 41.4 3P% (12/29 on 7.3 3PA; also 90.5 FT% on 19/21 FTA)
Crafty and physical driving to the basket. 59.2 2P% in Liga EBA last season. Combines dynamic handle with herky-jerky pace and deceptive screen use. Again, chains moves together well.
Sometimes even pretended to DHO screen himself at Barcelona before attacking the rim. Size theoretically allows for lineup construction versatility.
Embraces contact and throws his frame around when he gets downhill, even if he is somewhat limited in traditional athleticism.
Averaged nearly 7 FTA per game in league play last season.
Only an okay athlete who doesn’t have much twitch and vertical explosion despite his deception off the dribble. Won’t really dunk in the half-court. Heavy on-ball use, so question is how that translates in first year of NCAA hoops.
Manipulative and entertaining passer who can handle a heavy dose of pick-and-rolls. Shows creativity and dexterity making and executive reads from tough angles. Sees over the top well at 6-foot-6.
Dangerous when playing with a big who’s an above-the-rim threat that can make repeated efforts setting screens, rolling hard, and catching lobs. This was the case with Sayon Keita (another NBA prospect, born in 2008) at Barcelona.
Reads both sides of the floor, but more of a right-handed or two-handed passer right now. Want to see him gain more comfort with left-handed deliveries.
Creates the types of shots NBA teams want: at the rim and from three. Uses handle to create advantages, then flashy with his deliveries. Accuracy can be a bit wild sometimes because of the pizazz he plays with, but reads are broadly good.
High-volume ballhandler, so he’ll turn the ball over, but still has some avoidable ones. Can also predetermine his read, rather than taking what the defense gives him still.
Unsure as to how he’d adapt to becoming more of a secondary or tertiary guard.
Not an off-ball player. Primary initiator who organizes and scores until now. Won’t catch-and-shoot or spot-up much. Should be able to, but has way better rhythm on the ball. Also means he doesn’t attack off the catch or after cutting much.
Defense:
Athleticism and movement is more limited on defense. Moves well going forward on offense, particularly when allowed to pick up pace — but less effective going sideways and backwards on the defensive end.
Not sure who he defends at the NBA level. He’s too slow for 1s and maybe some 2s, but he’s not strong, athletic, or instinctual enough to defend NBA wings despite having good positional size (6-6 in shoes with 6-7½ wingspan).
Not even sure much he gets tested at Illinois, though. Defensively, Kylan Boswell will probably take on the toughest guard assignment.
Offensive engine, but needs to rev up defensive motor more often. Doesn’t constantly work hard to prevent dribble penetration. Doesn’t get very low with stance. Twitch and first step are limited.
Largely a one-way playmaker right now.
Positional size provides some hope and margin. When engaged, can be somewhat disruptive. Hip fluidity isn’t bad, although overall posture needs work.
Makes some off-ball plays. Can read the game well because of how he sees the floor as a point guard.
Can get some blocks in transition, too. Makes sense with how he picks up speed in space, rather than in short areas.
Gets steals, but not necessarily stops. So far, hasn’t subtracted from team as a defender — but now, the competition gets tougher, and since this is the draft, the question of how/if he adds value if he struggles on offense as a freshman at Illinois needs to be brought up.
In 19 league games last season: 31 steals, 5 blocks.
Active-ish in the passing lanes. Also gets some deflections on passes that try to go over him.
