Kasparas Jakučionis feels ready for the NBA draft — and excited for Illinois' new wave of ‘Balkan Ballers'
On the second day of the NBA draft combine, Illinois guard Kasparas Jakučionis was excited simply to be in an NBA jersey.
OK, so technically it wasn't a real NBA jersey. Draft prospects spend the week wearing boilerplate scrimmage pinnies emblazoned with the combine logo. But to Jakučionis, that was symbolic of the step he's about to take toward a lifelong dream.
'Everyone starts (dreaming) when they're little,' he said Wednesday at Wintrust Arena. 'If your dream is not to play in the NBA, you're not a real basketball player.'
Jakučionis spent most of his freshman season at Illinois as a projected lottery pick while averaging 15 points, 5.7 rebounds and 4.7 assists. While some inconsistencies showed the 18-year-old's relative rawness, Jakučionis flashed playmaking potential that could translate well to the NBA.
Midway through the week, Jakučionis felt the combine had been a positive experience. He measured well with a 6-foot-7¾ wingspan that outpaces his height (6-4¾) by 3 inches. His shooting was a mixed bag — he went 17 of 25 (68%) to finish in the top 20 of all combine participants in spot-up shooting, then made only 16 of 30 (53.3%) in the off-the-dribble drill.
For many prospects, combine week can be a reminder of the work left to do before they can become truly competitive NBA players. Jakučionis was no exception. He said he spent the weeks after Illinois' season ended focused on building strength in the weight room, improving his foot speed on defense and increasing the reliability of his shot.
His draft projections have been anything but consistent. Various league experts have Jakučionis getting selected anywhere from fifth to 10th — or even dropping out of the lottery (top 14) entirely. These fluctuations have less to do with his overall talent than with the draft order, which was upended Monday when the Dallas Mavericks won the lottery.
For now, Jakučionis is focused on making a strong impression on teams looking to bolster their backcourt. He said he had spoken with six front offices Wednesday but had yet to meet with the Chicago Bulls. In each of those meetings — and in individual workouts throughout the week — Jakučionis is pitching teams on his adaptability as a lengthy guard who can facilitate his teammates.
'My whole life, I've just tried to make everyone better on the court, tried to set pieces on the court, tried to be like a coach on the floor, make everybody better,' Jakučionis said.
Jakučionis spent only one year in Champaign, but the Lithuanian guard, along with sophomore center Tomislav Ivišić from Croatia, helped start a new trend for the Illini — something he takes pride in even after leaving the program.
The 2025-26 Illinois roster has earned such nicknames as the 'Balkan Brothers' and 'Balkan Ballers' with Ivišić returning and joined by his twin brother, Zvonimir, a transfer from Arkansas; California transfer Andrej Stojaković, the American son of Serbian former NBA star Peja Stojaković; and incoming recruits Mihailo Petrović of Serbia and David Mirković of Montenegro.
Jakučionis believes coach Brad Underwood has created a program that appeals to international prospects.
'It's really cool to me that Illinois started recruiting more and more Europeans, because before me, before Tomislav, there wasn't a lot of European guys coming to Illinois,' Jakučionis said. 'That was also a risky decision to do, but I'm really happy that I made the choice there. I think they trusted me, I trusted them. Now you can see the trust in the new players.'
Although he only spent one season in the program, Jakučionis credited Underwood and Illinois for preparing him for the draft. He worked out before the combine with Illinois strength and conditioning coach Adam Fletcher, who is helping him add the weight and muscle necessary to compete as a pro.
Jakučionis knows there's room to grow. And he understands the unpredictability of the draft process. But in the upcoming weeks, he hopes to sell teams on the one thing he promises to provide any team that calls his name on draft night.
'All-out effort,' Jakučionis said. 'One hundred percent every day, just working my best. I think I can adapt to whatever a team needs me to do.
'I can play on the ball and playmake for others. I can execute 100% on the defensive end. I can play off the ball. Whatever a team needs me to do, I'll be ready for that.'
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